Whereas Pierre Gilliard is disgusted by the idea and called Anna a “first-rate actress.” Character development It’s interesting to see their very different dynamics with Anastasia and then later with Anna. Gleb is a kind character and in his heart, he truly believes Anna is Anastasia. Both of these characters are real people. Specifically Gleb Botkin, a childhood friend of Anastasia and her tutor Pierre Gilliard. Some of the enjoyable parts about Anna Anderson’s timeline is the appearance of characters from Anastasia’s story. If you’re considering this book, please make note that there is graphic and brutal content right before and during the execution. But history is not without pain and there are some hard, distributing details that Lawhon covers, particularly with Anastasia and her sisters. I found myself more engaged with the Anastasia timeline and what their lives were like under house arrest. The attention to detail is extraordinary and while I know much about this subject, I learned much more.

I truly believe that one of the best aspects of historical fiction is learning something new. And I Was Anastasia is one of the most well-researched historical novels I’ve read.

When it comes to the last quarter of the book, the dual narrative style really takes off and there’s a payoff to this storytelling style at the end. That said, don’t let the reverse tactic deter you from the novel. There are many characters weaving in and out of her life and I feel because the storyline is told in reverse, some of the events that happen to Anna don’t feel as important or immediate. While I could tell right away why Lawhon employed this storytelling tool, there were times the Anna storyline was confusing. Eventually, the two timelines merge to that fateful day in 1918. Anna Anderson’s story is told in reverse, starting when she’s living in Charlottesville, Va., in the 1970s. There are two storylines, one is from the first-person perspective of Anastasia 18 months before her family’s execution. However, there are some storytelling choices Lawhon made that you should know going into the novel. Trust me, even if you think you know the Anastasia Romanov/Anna Anderson stories, you’ll learn something new. But this is the first time I’ve read a historical fiction novel on the subject and it was different than I expected but I very much enjoyed it. I mentioned in my preview that I’m fascinated with the Romanovs and the historical mystery.

I was anastasia book