The Kitchen Boy Book Critique
THE KITCHEN BOY
One of the greatest mysteries in Russian history is the murder of the last royal family of the Romanov dynasty. Although there is much speculation as to what happened that grisly night, some details still remain unclear, and could only be verified by a witness to the tragic events. In the novel, The Kitchen Boy, author Robert Alexander offers a fictional tale that does just that. Through the perspective of the main character Misha, the reader is taken back in time to the early twentieth century where Misha recalls his memories as the young kitchen boy, Leonid Sednyov, or Leonka, in the Impatiev House where the Imperial family was held captive. Published by Viking Penguin Publishing in 2003, The Kitchen Boy is a New York Times bestseller whose purpose is to inform and entertain readers of the last few weeks of the Romanov family while under Bolshevik siege.
The story begins present day with Misha, a wealthy ninety-four year old man living in the Chicago suburbs, preparing to record the memories of his youth with the use of audiotapes for his beloved granddaughter Katya. Misha reveals that he was born Leonid Sednyov, and worked as the young kitchen boy in the Impatiev House, the House of Special Purpose, where the royal family was captured. After working in the house for some time, Leonka becomes the Romanov’s entrusted friend when he agrees to become a messenger for the family, exchanging notes regarding escape and rescue between the family and the nuns who visit the house often delivering goods and other supplies. While illustrating the daily struggles the imperial family faced, Leonka also speaks of his own personal fears, and guilt over his own indiscretion that he believes resulted in the family’s murder.
Leonka, a tall, lanky, shy, and awkward fourteen-year-old boy takes on the role as the Romanov’s only communication to the outside world. Isolated, the royal family is locked inside the Impatiev House for most of the day with all of the
One of the greatest mysteries in Russian history is the murder of the last royal family of the Romanov dynasty. Although there is much speculation as to what happened that grisly night, some details still remain unclear, and could only be verified by a witness to the tragic events. In the novel, The Kitchen Boy, author Robert Alexander offers a fictional tale that does just that. Through the perspective of the main character Misha, the reader is taken back in time to the early twentieth century where Misha recalls his memories as the young kitchen boy, Leonid Sednyov, or Leonka, in the Impatiev House where the Imperial family was held captive. Published by Viking Penguin Publishing in 2003, The Kitchen Boy is a New York Times bestseller whose purpose is to inform and entertain readers of the last few weeks of the Romanov family while under Bolshevik siege.
The story begins present day with Misha, a wealthy ninety-four year old man living in the Chicago suburbs, preparing to record the memories of his youth with the use of audiotapes for his beloved granddaughter Katya. Misha reveals that he was born Leonid Sednyov, and worked as the young kitchen boy in the Impatiev House, the House of Special Purpose, where the royal family was captured. After working in the house for some time, Leonka becomes the Romanov’s entrusted friend when he agrees to become a messenger for the family, exchanging notes regarding escape and rescue between the family and the nuns who visit the house often delivering goods and other supplies. While illustrating the daily struggles the imperial family faced, Leonka also speaks of his own personal fears, and guilt over his own indiscretion that he believes resulted in the family’s murder.
Leonka, a tall, lanky, shy, and awkward fourteen-year-old boy takes on the role as the Romanov’s only communication to the outside world. Isolated, the royal family is locked inside the Impatiev House for most of the day with all of the