The Empress and the Cow

By: Anna Vyroubova

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

“The most unimpressive favorite in history.” “Fat, clumsy, gushing and stupid.” These were but a few of the things said about Anna Vyroubova, favorite of the Russian Imperial Family from 1905 until 1917 when she was arrested at the onset of the Revolution and sent to the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg on suspicion of being part of an imperial conspiracy – orchestrated by the German-born Empress Alexandra – to hand over Russia treacherously to her bitterest enemy. She has also been called the “unintended genius of the Russian Revolution.” Painted at various times in her life as the lover of Empress Alexandra, or of Rasputin, or of Tsar Nicholas II even – or of all three simultaneously – she used a Bolshevik doctor to prove her virginity and thus her innocence of all charges made against her. So, was she a well-connected, naïve simpleton who happened to be a pleasing, if unlikely, companion for the lonely Empress Alexandra, or was she the cunning arch-manipulator who, together with Rasputin, helped to destroy the most powerful monarchy on earth? The actual facts are inconclusive. Even Empress Alexandra couldn't have told us for certain who Anna really was, for despite keeping Anna constantly at her side for over a decade, she left conflicting reports. In a letter to Tsar Nicholas II in 1914, Alexandra said, “You are mine, all mine, not hers [Anna’s]. If we are not both firm, we will have lovers’ scenes and scandals. You will see upon your return she will tell you how terribly she suffered without you. Be nice and firm, she always needs cooling down.” In a later letter to Nicholas, Alexandra referred to her scornfully as “the cow” and added, “She is full of how thin she has grown, tho’ I find her stomach and legs colossal & most unappetizing.” Yet Alexandra also referred to Anna as “Our big baby, our fifth daughter,” and pined for her company during her exile in Siberia. What we do know about Anna is that she was a survivor of one of the bloodiest revolutions in the history of the world, during which millions died – executed for being suspected counter-Revolutionaries or even for nothing more than being “bourgeois,” but Anna, “ the most hated woman in Russia,” survived and lived to tell this, her version of her story. As for what really happened …

A must-read for Romanov Fans and Enthusiasts!

I’ve wanted to read this book since middle school and am approaching my 4th decade on this earth. Prior to reading this, I had a different perspective and opinion of the highly infamous Anna Vyrobouva. I have a greater respect and understanding of her simple and often slandered life. Regardless of your thoughts, this is a great read for anyone interested in the Romanovs and the end of the dynasty.

Facinating Story

Listen to many books about royalty, nobility, and the Gilded Age. This was the first time I had heard of this person or her story. It was a fascinating telling of the events around and after the Russian Revolution from an insider. My only issue was the AI-generated narrator. Although not jarring, at times the pronunciation was off, but that should not stop one from listening. If you want to explore the life of the Russian royal family from an insider's perspective, give this a listen.

Less Than Candid

I only recently learned who Anna Dubrovya was and her "importance" in the sad story of Emperor Nicholas and Empress Alexandra. Anna was a Russian noblewoman who turned out to be one of the few, if not the only friend the ill-fated Empress had. Despite their relationship, this woman played a part in the couple's downfall. But don't expect a completely honest retelling of how Anna accomplished this. Specifically, she never explains her central role in bringing Rasputin to the imperial family.

Anna Dubrovya was a fervent follower of Rasputin some time before he ever met Alexandra. But she downplays her involvement in arranging meetings between the "holy man" and the empress. Such minimization is understandable as Anna wrote this memoir in 1920, while Russia was still very much in turmoil. My personal opinion is that Alexandra had a much better reason for revering and hanging onto Rasputin. He seemed to miraculously heal her desperately ill son, Alexei. What mother wouldn't fight to protect the one person who could ensure the survival of their child?

Anna also skims over the exact nature of the rude rumor clouding her close friendship with Alexandra. No surprise there...they were accused of being lesbian lovers. Again, this memoir was written 100 years ago, so it would have been unseemly to spell out a homosexual accusation, even to deny it. To her credit, she speaks with uncowed admiration of her friend. Supporting Alexandra would have been a courageous public stance to take at that time, even among people who regretted her murder. Anna offers a somewhat less glowing but probably more balanced assessment of Tsar Nicholas.

The more interesting aspects of this memoir are Anna's remembrances of Imperial court life, and her own experiences as a revolutionary prisoner.

Anna Dubrovya turned out to be a fairly good writer. I assume she originally wrote in Russian, so perhaps it's the translation that was good.

Finally, this book is narrated by digital voice. I quite like the AI reader. "She" has a pleasant British accent and all the inflections are excellent. There are a couple of glitches as the voice stumbles over names, but just a couple.