{"title":"Helen Rappaport","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the captivating world of history and biography through the insightful works of \u003cem\u003eHelen Rappaport\u003c\/em\u003e, an acclaimed historian and author renowned for her meticulous research and engaging storytelling. With a special focus on Russian history and remarkable historical figures, Rappaport's books offer readers a deep dive into the lives and events that have shaped our world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of her notable works, \u003cstrong\u003eAfter the Romanovs\u003c\/strong\u003e, guides readers through the turbulent times following the fall of the Romanov dynasty, shedding light on the struggles and resilience of Russian émigrés in post-revolutionary Europe. This engaging narrative is not only a historical examination but also a moving tale of survival and adaptation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn another fascinating read, \u003cstrong\u003eIn Search of Mary Seacole\u003c\/strong\u003e, Rappaport brings the story of this pioneering nurse and businesswoman to life. Through a skilful blend of biography and history, she honours the legacy of Mary Seacole, illuminating her contributions and the challenges she faced during the Crimean War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect for history enthusiasts and curious minds alike, Helen Rappaport’s books in our History \u0026amp; Military and Biography \u0026amp; Memoir collections promise to enrich your understanding of the past while immersing you in its complex narratives. Discover these compelling reads and more in her dedicated category at our bookstore.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"after-the-romanovs-by-helen-rappaport-9781922585349","title":"After the Romanovs","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the New York Times bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eThe Romanov Sisters\u003c\/em\u003e comes the story of the Russian aristocrats, artists, and intellectuals who sought freedom and refuge in the City of Light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eParis has always been a city of cultural excellence, fine wine and food, and the latest fashions. But it has also been a place of refuge for those fleeing persecution—never more so than before and after the Russian Revolution and the fall of the Romanov dynasty. For years, Russian aristocrats had enjoyed all that Belle Époque Paris had to offer, spending lavishly when they visited. It was a place of artistic experimentation, such as Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. But the brutality of the Bolshevik takeover forced Russians of all types to flee their homeland, sometimes leaving with only the clothes on their backs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArriving in Paris, former princes could be seen driving taxicabs, while their wives who could sew worked for the fashion houses, their unique Russian style serving as inspiration for designers such as Coco Chanel. Talented intellectuals, artists, poets, philosophers, and writers struggled in exile, eking out a living at menial jobs. Some, like Bunin, Chagall, and Stravinsky, encountered great success in the same Paris that welcomed Americans such as Fitzgerald and Hemingway. Political activists sought to overthrow the Bolshevik regime from afar, while double agents plotted espionage and assassination from both sides. Others became trapped in a cycle of poverty and their all-consuming homesickness for Russia, the homeland they had been forced to abandon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is their story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Full of colourful anecdotes and sharp character sketches, this breezy account of life in exile entertains.'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n- Publishers Weekly\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Throughout, Helen Rappaport, a consummate historian, displays her deep research into the era, the city, and its denizens. A culturally vibrant account of Russians uprooted to Paris during a tumultuous time.'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n- Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A thorough and extremely well-researched examination of the Russian experience in Paris before and after the Bolshevik uprising of 1917 ... those interested in exploring a variety of unique perspectives on the Russian Revolution will find a wealth of information within these pages.'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n- Lucy Roehrig, Booklist\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46338488140012,"sku":"9781922585349","price":36.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14264613482872.jpg?v=1743731874"},{"product_id":"in-search-of-mary-seacole-by-helen-rappaport-9781398504455","title":"In Search of Mary Seacole","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn astonishingly rich story... wonderfully informative.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRappaport does a terrific job of bringing respectful rigour to her account of Seacole's extraordinary life.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn Search of Mary Seacole\u003c\/em\u003e is a superb and revealing biography that explores her remarkable achievements and unique status as an icon of the 19th century, but also corrects some of the myths that have grown around her life and career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHaving been raised in \u003cstrong\u003eJamaica\u003c\/strong\u003e and worked in Panama, \u003cstrong\u003eMary Seacole\u003c\/strong\u003e came to England in the 1850s and volunteered to help out during the \u003cstrong\u003eCrimean War\u003c\/strong\u003e. When her services were turned down, she financed her own expedition to \u003cstrong\u003eBalaclava\u003c\/strong\u003e, where she earned her reputation as a nurse and for her compassion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePopularly known as ‘Mother Seacole’, she was the most famous Black celebrity of her generation – an extraordinary achievement in \u003cstrong\u003eVictorian Britain\u003c\/strong\u003e. She regularly mixed with illustrious royal and military patrons, and they, along with grateful war veterans, helped her recover financially when she faced bankruptcy. However, after her death in 1881, she was largely forgotten for many years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMore recently, her profile has been revived and her reputation lionised, with a statue of her standing outside St Thomas's Hospital in London and her portrait – rediscovered by the author – now on display in the National Portrait Gallery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn Search of Mary Seacole\u003c\/em\u003e is the fruit of almost \u003cstrong\u003etwenty years of research\u003c\/strong\u003e by Helen Rappaport into her story. The book reveals the truth about Seacole's personal life and her 'rivalry' with Florence Nightingale, along with much more besides. Often, the reality proves to be even more remarkable and dramatic than the legend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46844124201196,"sku":"9781398504455","price":26.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/25498403482685.jpg?v=1758827575"},{"product_id":"the-rebel-romanov-by-helen-rappaport-9781398525962","title":"The Rebel Romanov","description":"'What a wonderful book!  The storytelling, the research, the deep love of her subject -- this must be the climax of Rappaport's long and illustrious career' \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLucy Worsley \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTo Queen Victoria she was Aunt Julie; to Catherine the Great she was Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna, granddaughter-in-law. This is the story of Princess Juliane-Henriette-Ulrike of Saxe-Coburg, the Rebel Romanov. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Born in 1781 in a small impoverished duchy of Germany, Julie's quiet life took a fairy-tale turn when she married into the Russian Imperial Family - the Romanovs. But this world of baroque splendour, of opulent palaces and grandeur, was no happily ever after. Taken to Russia at just fourteen, her marriage was hastily brokered to save the Saxe-Coburg duchy from financial ruin. Her husband, Grand Duke Konstantin, was cruel and abusive, Julie was uprooted from her home, family, language and culture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As Russia and Europe were thrown into tumult by the murder of Emperor Paul and the rise of Napoleon, Julie finally made her escape back to Germany, where she lived for two decades as a social pariah, denied a divorce by the Imperial Family. Forced to give up two illegitimate children to protect her family's honour, she eventually built a life for herself in Switzerland, where she entertained poets and philosophers, regaling them with tales from the Russian court. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Helen Rappaport recreates the extraordinary life of this forgotten figure. In doing so she sheds new light on the Romanovs, reveals the sacrifices Julie made to further her family's interests - her brother became king of Belgium, her sister gave birth to Queen Victoria - and investigates the true nature of Julie's relationship with Tsar Alexander I. Rich in history, drama and royal intrigue, Julie's remarkable story is told at last.","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47288989810924,"sku":"9781398525962","price":65.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/25713473482685.jpg?v=1770583857"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/helen-rappaport.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}