A revised edition (1990) by Arturo Beéche, includes new material. Volume I includes all the sons of the Tsars - has 4 family trees and 97 photo's, more than 300 pages. Will be published november 2010. Volume II will be published at the end of this year. From 1797 to 1917, these Grand Dukes roamed Europe in their private trains, sailed the world in battleships, took over entire hotels, bought great art wholesale, had the most fabulous jewels, gambled millions on the turn of a wheel at Monte Carlo, and were greeted by presidents and kings as lords of the realm. Each in his turn stood but a heartbeat from the Imperial Throne, Autocrat of All the Russias. Yet, they were not always happy men.
Some were devastatingly handsome, others ugly; a few were great scoundrels, some talented artists; there were poets and humanists, historians and wastrels—a great variety of unique individuals. But their lives were not their own. Each was at the command of the Emperor in all respects, forbidden the daily life led by most men, for they were always in-waiting should fate call, and they responded in different ways.