Another. Freaking. Snow Day.
Mother Nature, can you just chill out? I don’t want to still be in school in June.
Wait…scratch that. Mother Nature, do what ever the opposite of chill out is. We do not need more chill. We need temperatures above fifty Fahrenheit thank-you-very-much.
Among my research readings are the letters and diaries of Nicholas II’s daughters. Yes, there’s a reason I’m reading these. Yes, it will come into play in Melusine’s Endgame. Bear with me.
Anastasia is the one that is nearly always remembered (I mean, how many movies have there been at this point?), but her sisters are just as fascinating. In photos, one sees a quartet of modern-day fairy tale princesses, aloof and untouchable. Their writings present a different picture. Each young woman had a unique personality, which gets lost when one only truly hears about one of them. I’ll post a more in-depth analysis once I do a deeper read of each book, but here’s my first impressions of the four Grand Princesses.
Olga:
Smart, sensitive, and your typical oldest child. Perhaps not a natural leader, but not one to be shoved around, either. Musically gifted. A bit of a quick temper, though she seemed to recognize this was a trait she had to work on. Also stubborn, and could be a touch lazy about her studies. A keen desire to help others, and it didn’t really matter who they were. I get the feeling Olga was one of those people who you could tell exactly what she was thinking just by looking at her. Were she allowed her own path, I could see Olga being a professional musician, though only if the pieces interested her.
Tatiana:
Closest in appearance and temperament to her mother, Alexandra. Considered the most classically beautiful of the sisters, and she did enjoy the attention that engendered, though she doesn’t come across as vain in her writing. Like her mother, comes across as distant and aloof, but very different among people she knew well. Along with Anastasia, the most natural leader of the group. Had a talent for hairdressing, and could wear ANYTHING and look amazing in it. Seems pretty unflappable. I could see Tatiana being a hair stylist today, and being the one people run to when ‘oh-my-god-I-forgot-about-prom/hot date/fancy event-and-I-need-my-hair-done-NOW!’ I can see Tatiana parking said person in a chair and working her magic.
Maria:
This poor kiddo got a bit lost in the shuffle. She was the middle child (if you count Alexei, her brother), and her writings do indicate she sometimes felt short-changed for attention. Given Alexei’s medical condition and the attention her mother devoted to him, an understandable perspective. A natural with watercolors, and she does seem proud of them (justifiably so…she was pretty dang good!). A more than pretty young woman, and may have given Tatiana some competition for beauty of the family had she gotten a bit older. Quick tempered, like Olga, and easily dominated by her younger sister, Anastasia. Loved kids. I could see her as a preschool teacher or childcare provider today, and loving every second of it.
Anastasia:
Oh my word, this young lady. She’s the type that would give a teacher like me fits. Very smart, academically capable like Olga, but lazy and less willing to apply herself. God help you if you got into a verbal argument with her. Clever and creative, and took selfies before we even knew they were a thing. To a degree, overshadowed by her older sisters, especially in terms of appearance (though like Maria, that improved with age). She made up for that perceived lack with her force of personality. Definitely the wild child of the sisters, and the one who got in trouble the most. Deep creative streak. I could see her writing for a living, with a strong bent toward the unhinged (I think something like Ren and Stimpy would appeal to her, if nothing else than to cork her parents off).
I’ll post more in-depth once I get through each book.
Hilary