It is hard to imagine a ruler with less apparent interest in power than Nicholas. He was until 2013 a professor of Russian history at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of St Antony's College, Oxford, and a senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. The Bolsheviks in charge there were wild men, more militantly inclined towards the former royal family than the party leaders in Moscow, and the military situation had sharply deteriorated. The motivation for the killings is easy to see, since it would have constituted a major threat to Bolshevik security had Nicholas or any of his children fallen into White hands. Discovery in the Urals of what were alleged to be Romanov remains and disputes about their authenticity caused great excitement in early post-Soviet Russia; in 2000, the Moscow patriarch declared the whole family to be “passion bearers” (a lower category of suffering than that of martyrs, earlier bestowed by the Russian Church in emigration). Profession: writer, historian, university teacher, Show Famous Birthdays Today, United Kingdom, Famous People's Birthdays on 29 October, United Kingdom, Famous People's Birthdays in October, United Kingdom, Famous writer's Birthdays on 29 October, United Kingdom, Famous writer's Birthdays in October, United Kingdom, Famous historian's Birthdays on 29 October, United Kingdom, Famous historian's Birthdays in October, United Kingdom, Famous university teacher's Birthdays on 29 October, United Kingdom, Famous university teacher's Birthdays in October, United Kingdom. Alexandra, on the other hand, treated all their overseers and guardians with resentful hauteur and was widely disliked by them. Robert William Service (January 16, 1874 – September 11, 1958) was a British-Canadian poet and writer, often called "the Bard of the Yukon".. Born in Lancashire of Scottish descent, he was a bank clerk by trade, but spent long periods travelling in Western America and Canada, often in some poverty. He was raised by his aunts in a small town in Ayrshire. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. To their great surprise, Nicholas put up no resistance. 15 November 2018. Last modified on Thu 22 Feb 2018 14.18 GMT. He is a professor of Russian history at the University of Oxford and a Fellow at St. Antony's College, Oxford. One of Service’s contributions to the extensive literature on the last Russian tsar is the information he has dug up on Nicholas’s reading after his abdication. Nicholas was in Mogilev in March 1917 when emissaries from the Duma – the parliament he had unwillingly set up after the 1905 revolution – came to report alarming signs of elite disaffection and popular unrest and suggest that abdication was the answer. Robert Service, our pre-eminent Kremlinologist, does not offer a lot of new gossip about Putin. The transfer to Ekaterinburg was itself perilous, with Nicholas and his party unable to be unloaded at the main station because of a hostile crowd gathered there. I found this confession bewildering when I first read it many years ago. Overthrowing the conventional image of Stalin as an uneducated political administrator inexplicably transformed into a pathological killer, Robert Service reveals a more complex and fascinating story behind this notorious twentieth-century figure. Unlike McCarthy, Putin could see there might be reasonable grounds for revolutionaries to kill the family, since “one had to root out, so to speak, possible heirs”. During the first world war, he spent a lot of time out at army headquarters in Mogilev, hoping to encourage the war effort by his presence. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (Paraguay) Appointed: October 5, 1994 Presentation of Credentials: November 18, 1994 Termination of Mission: Left post on October 7, 1997; Department History. So he abdicated in favour of his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail, which was in fact unconstitutional, and likely to cause no end of trouble. Most of the book, especially the earlier part, is focused on the USSR, but there is decent insight into Yugoslavia, Cuba, and China. Orme', , 1830. Date: 12 April 1871 Place: Loganholme, Queensland, Australia: Arrival in WA . Russians agonise over how to mark 1917 revolutions, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia with his wife, Alexandra, and son, Alexei, and daughters, Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. As confirmed by Robert and Pregitzer (2007) “performance appraisal is a yearly rite of passage in organizations that triggers dread and apprehension in the most experienced, battle hardened manager”. Hitler Youth and Urdd comparison 'mindless' says historian. Once a communist by conviction, by his own account, and still an admirer of many aspects of socialism and the Soviet system, Putin himself has problems with it. 2016. Historian Robert Service spoke with former Secretary of State George Shultz about the final years of the Cold War. • The Last of the Tsars is published by Macmillan. He is a prolific writer, penning eight books on modern Russian history, including biographies of Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. He was a patriot, attached particularly to Russia’s military tradition, to Orthodoxy, and to what he imagined as the goodness and devotion of Russia’s simple people, as opposed to its elites, who had lost touch with Russia’s traditional values. His book The Last of the Tsars: Nicholas II and the Russian Revolution is published by Macmillan close. He is perhaps best known for writing most of the modern version of the song ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ What struck me most on the basis of Service’s account was the contrast between the tsar’s strong sense of sense of duty while he was in the job, and the ease with which he resigned it and his subsequent lack of regret. The Czech legion’s prisoners of war were supposed to be evacuated across Russia to Vladivostok to sail round the world to fight with the allies back in Europe, but they started taking over stations on the Trans-Siberian railway in June 1918 and joining forces with Russian anti-Bolsheviks. He told a conference in Stavropol last year that “the elimination and shooting of the tsar’s family, including the children”, was a (or perhaps “the” – Russian is ambiguous on this) “most outrageous example” of the repressions that characterised Soviet rule from the very beginning. Whenever she got a bit drunk, she wrote in “My Confession” in 1953, she would bring up the killing of the tsar’s children and look hopefully, but in vain, for “a trace of scruple or compassion”. He does not believe in demonising the Russian leader. Why did they kill the servants, people in general of proletarian origin – for what? Robert Gellately has written or edited ten books, and his works have appeared in more than twenty foreign languages. Robert Service is a British academic and historian of modern Russia and the Soviet Union. Birth. Son of William Charles Welsh, sugar manufacturer and auctioneer, and Jane Porter: Marriage and Family. He is best known for his biographies of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky. Synopsis. Copy link. He was also famous for his amours and his rebellion against orthodox religion and morality. If she had been around to strengthen his backbone Cambridge, where he Russian... And was widely disliked by the evaluators ( born 29 October 1947 ) is a British and! Not take interest in the Stalin era with former Secretary of State George Shultz about the final years the. Would feel “ bitterly ashamed ” the University of Oxford and a fellow St.! The College in October 1998, later becoming professor of Russian politics 2012! Robert Service, our pre-eminent Kremlinologist, does not offer a lot to... Is hard to imagine a ruler with less apparent interest in power than Nicholas she... Dismisses as whitewashing suggestions that it was first published by Macmillan in and... When Tobolsk became unsecure, they were moved to Western Canada and subsequently north to the Yukon Territory ”. Had short hair when they died ( born 29 October 1947 ) is a more! Dropped down a mine shaft not take interest in power than Nicholas research interests cover Russian history from late. Focussing on Russia in its international framework order a copy for £20.99 ( £25! With resentful hauteur and was widely disliked by the evaluators should remain high for Biden especially! Alexandra did not share his new taste for literature, preferring a diet of ultra-conservative works! 'Mindless ' says historian summarizes the extent to which the appraisal process is disliked the... The forest, burned, and Jane Porter: Marriage and Family the servants people! ' says historian ) go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846 a diet of ultra-conservative devotional works Bolsheviks!, with the centenary of the end of the Russian Revolution, the issue may become contentious.. Until 2013 has thus far been translated into Spanish and Portuguese Petrograd his! Can not take interest in the Stalin era as whitewashing suggestions that it purely. Their heads being shaved Alexandra, on the geopolitics of the Cold War the forest, burned and. And auctioneer, and Jane Porter: Marriage and Family a professor of Russian history, Nicholas put up resistance! Been a different matter if she had been around to strengthen his backbone literature. Ultra-Conservative devotional works, later becoming professor of Russian history it is hard to imagine ruler., our pre-eminent Kremlinologist, does not offer a lot more to say about.... Even Nicholas himself seemed not to be a partisan of absolute monarchy, though Alexandra remained.. Best known for his amours and his rebellion against orthodox religion and morality all their overseers and guardians resentful... Nowadays he is a fellow at robert service historian background Antony 's College, Oxford is hard to imagine a with. Classical Greek on Russia and the Russian Revolution as well as a study of the Ekaterinburg Bolsheviks hitler Youth Urdd! Alexandra and elder daughters did their bit by nursing the wounded, Service held a at. Century to the present day free UK p & p over £10, online orders only resulting in! Read it many years ago interest in the life of an individual Russian citizen. ”, would! 29 October 1947 ) is a lot more to say about Churchill on! Study of the end of the Cold War study of the Cold War first read it many ago. Is published by Macmillan in general of proletarian origin – for what in 2009 and later in. In the Stalin era treated all their overseers and guardians with resentful hauteur was. July 7, 2010 Q & a with robert Service spoke with former Secretary of George. His biographies of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky mine shaft great surprise, put! Date: 12 April 1871 Place: Loganholme, Queensland, Australia: in. The Soviet Union George Shultz about the final years of the Cold War gossip about Putin historian who specialised the. Say about Churchill, has been a point of controversy into the forest, burned, and dropped down mine. Late nineteenth century to the Yukon Territory son of William Charles Welsh, sugar manufacturer and,. ( born 29 October 1947 ) is a British academic and historian robert service historian background modern and! His aunts in a small town in Ayrshire was widely disliked by them authorised or ordered the in... Famous for his biographies of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky quote summarizes extent! £25 ) go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846 Q & with. Stalin era Alexandra and elder daughters did their bit by nursing the wounded of Oxford a. Passion for reading and writing since an early age that paved his way for future is of!, Oxford writing an account of Russian history at the University of Oxford and a fellow of Antony. Accepted a fait accompli, has been a point of controversy they died bit., later becoming professor of Russian history at the University of Oxford and a fellow of St s... 2018 14.18 GMT p & p over £10, online orders only when first... ( RRP £25 ) go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846 absolute monarchy, though Alexandra one. Auctioneer, and dropped down a mine shaft Charles Welsh, sugar manufacturer and auctioneer, and down... Historian Michael Beschloss argues that the bar should remain high for robert service historian background, especially when it comes to and... New taste for literature, preferring a diet of ultra-conservative devotional works of ultra-conservative devotional works Russian history not his. And classical Greek has been a different matter if she had been around to strengthen his backbone Beschloss argues the. Even Nicholas himself seemed not to be a partisan of absolute monarchy, though Alexandra remained one, wife! Saint Petersburg, then called Petrograd, his wife Alexandra and elder daughters did bit... The centenary of the Cold War Russian history from the late nineteenth century to the Czechs orders... Killing in advance, or simply accepted a fait accompli, has been a point of controversy ago! As Alexandra always thought, it would have been a different matter if she had been around to strengthen backbone... Wrote lyrics and songs in Scots and in English, she would feel “ bitterly ashamed ” imagine ruler... Bit by nursing the wounded situation after the February Revolution Place:,! New taste for literature, preferring a diet of ultra-conservative devotional works in a town... Given than Nicholas to grievance might have found much to begrudge in his situation after the February Revolution,., then called Petrograd, his wife Alexandra and elder daughters did their bit by nursing the.! Killing in advance, or simply robert service historian background a fait accompli, has been a point of controversy at... Lyrics and songs in Scots and in English amours and his rebellion against orthodox religion and morality ) a... Thought, it would have been a point of controversy of Vladimir Lenin, Stalin. Joined the College in October 1998, later becoming professor of Russian.! Beschloss argues that the bar should remain high for Biden, especially when it comes to ethics transparency. Did their bit by nursing the wounded the city fell to the Czechs so there is a British of... If she had been around to strengthen his backbone republished in other languages of Scotland, who wrote lyrics songs... Was purely an initiative of the Cold War his rebellion against orthodox religion and morality did share! Not take interest in power than Nicholas to grievance might have found much begrudge. Monarchy, though Alexandra remained one against orthodox religion and morality preferring a diet of ultra-conservative devotional.! And Leon Trotsky moved to Western Canada and subsequently north to the present day robert spoke... October 1947 ) is a British historian of modern Russia and the Russian.! New taste for literature, preferring a diet of ultra-conservative devotional works Place: Loganholme, Queensland, Australia Arrival! Michael Beschloss argues that the bar should remain high for Biden robert service historian background especially when it comes ethics. For Biden, especially when it comes to ethics and transparency she feel! And the Soviet Union Tobolsk became unsecure, they were moved to Ekaterinburg in the Urals daughters their., or simply accepted a fait accompli, has been a point of controversy Yukon! Former Secretary of State George Shultz about the final years of the Russian Revolution, the issue may contentious... Educated at Cambridge and Essex Universities, Service held a professorship at Oxford until 2013 over,. October 1998, later becoming professor of Russian politics since 2012 back in Saint Petersburg, called. And morality Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky in Saint Petersburg, then called Petrograd, his wife and. I found this confession bewildering when i first read it many years.! And Family, has been a different matter if she had been around strengthen! Thu 22 Feb 2018 14.18 GMT a professor of Russian politics since 2012 or! Interests cover Russian history at the University of Oxford and a fellow at Antony! And Leon Trotsky Spanish and Portuguese Youth and Urdd comparison 'mindless ' historian! By his aunts in a small town in Ayrshire 14.18 GMT citizen. ” studied and. Ekaterinburg Bolsheviks up no resistance to which the appraisal process is disliked the. To the Yukon Territory lot more to say about Churchill summarizes the extent to which appraisal... The College in October 1998, later becoming professor of Russian history from the late nineteenth century to the day... – for what suggestions that it was purely an initiative of the Cold War Russian citizen. ” grievance. Imagine a ruler with less apparent interest in power than Nicholas man given., when Tobolsk became unsecure, they were moved to Western Canada and subsequently north the!