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Post by chonies on Mar 22, 2015 19:15:03 GMT -4
I had planned to watch Richard III stuff on Thursday--I didn't realize there was going to be a lying-in-state and that this would be multi-day deal. I saw some amusing twitter coverage.
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Post by Brookie on Mar 22, 2015 19:38:09 GMT -4
I had planned to watch Richard III stuff on Thursday--I didn't realize there was going to be a lying-in-state and that this would be multi-day deal. I saw some amusing twitter coverage. Closed casket, right?  |
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Post by chonies on Mar 22, 2015 19:40:30 GMT -4
So far, but those are some old-ass bones--I think they've completely skeletonized.
I don't know if that's any comfort.
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boxofrocks
Blueblood
Posts: 1,769
Aug 25, 2007 11:01:39 GMT -4
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Post by boxofrocks on Mar 22, 2015 21:55:28 GMT -4
Yeah, it's all bones now. In an earlier post in this thread, I linked to a documentary about the discovery of the bones. There are some extended shots of the assembled skeleton in a lab and the remains are definitely nothing more than that.
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Post by divasahm on Mar 23, 2015 7:50:30 GMT -4
Did y'all read the CNN article about the descendant whose DNA swab confirmed that the remains were those of Richard III? He is a cabinetmaker, and was asked to create the casket for the remains. It's really lovely...(I can't seem to find the link to the article anywhere--sorry!)
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Post by chonies on Mar 23, 2015 8:19:33 GMT -4
Did y'all read the CNN article about the descendant whose DNA swab confirmed that the remains were those of Richard III? He is a cabinetmaker, and was asked to create the casket for the remains. It's really lovely...(I can't seem to find the link to the article anywhere--sorry!) from Agence France-Presse. It's a really fascinating story overall. |
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Post by carrier76 on Apr 2, 2015 12:15:18 GMT -4
So, I am reading "The Romanov Sisters," by Helen Rappaport. I have always been intrigued by the reign and death of Nicholas II and his family, and very bothered by the fact that the entire family was assassinated. The book is riveting, and what is surprising me is that while I'm feeling very sympathetic towards the daughters, I am starting to develop a burning hatred for Alexandra and extreme frustration with Nicholas II for not being more of a leader. I am actually starting to understand the turn of events that led to the family's eventual murders.
Didn't expect this. But seriously, Alexandra was awful, and a royal pain (pun intended).
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Post by Baby Fish Mouth on Apr 2, 2015 12:29:38 GMT -4
What does the book say about Alexandra's relationship with Rasputin? I've always been fascinated with that dude.
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Post by carrier76 on Apr 2, 2015 13:12:06 GMT -4
I'm at about 1912 in the book. They had met him briefly, earlier in the book, as he was faith healing someone else. Alexey had injured himself and was in serious trouble, what with his hemophilia, and Rasputin was summoned as a last ditch. Rasputin came in and "healed" him, somehow, and after that they (the whole family) were devoted to him and his powers, and got it in their heads that he was their only hope. Alexandra was positively mad, and she decided that Rasputin was the only one who would be able to keep Alexey alive. At my current point in the book, they are starting to cut ties with people who are openly critical of him. The girls' governess was let go, after she and Nicholas had had a discussion regarding Rasputin. The governess told Nicholas her opinion, that she thought Rasputin was detestable, and Nicholas said something to the effect of, "The only reason I have survived these difficult years is because of him." Eek. I know that his hold over Alexandra gets even more insane as time goes on.
I got really excited when Lord Mountbatten's name came up in the book, as I know who he is. He visited w/ the family around 1910. He referred to Alexandra as a "crazy lunatic."
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Post by Auroranorth on Apr 2, 2015 14:16:48 GMT -4
My Romanov reading left me really exasperated with Alexandra and wanting to ship Nicholas off to Outward Bound to develop a spine. Plus whacking him with a clue bat A LOT.
Part of her problem by that point was that her son's hemophilia came from her side of the family. I think she really blamed herself and couldn't get over it. She didn't have any real support in Russia other than her sister, which is one of the reasons she was so easily sucked in by Rasputin. She was not popular for a lot of reasons, some not her fault. But her personality did not win friends and influence people positively.
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