Pavlovsk: The Life of a Russian Palace
The Pavlovsk Palace, near Leningrad, has been a silent witness to the best and the worst fortunes of imperial Russia and the Soviet Union. Begun in 1777 by Emperor Paul III and his wife Maria Fedorovna near their capital, the palace was a residence of the imperial family until 1915. Preserved and protected during the Revolution of 1917, it was looted and nearly destroyed by the Germans during the World War II siege of Leningrad. Almost immediately after the siege was lifted (January 1944), plans were drawn up to rebuild and restore the palace to its former glory. Massie, author of Land of the Firebird (LJ 9/15/80), writes with great affection for the 18th-century builders and admiration for the contemporary artisans who have spent 40 years restoring the palace. A valuable addition for any travel or history collection dealing with the Soviet Union.- Marcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., New YorkCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.