Includes bibliographical references (pages 423-424)

Minnie knows that her station in life as a Danish princess is to leave her family and enter into a royal marriage. She is brought to Russia, and marries the Romanov heir, Alexander. Once he ascends the throne, she becomes empress Maria. When their son, Nicholas, inherits the throne he is the inexperienced ruler of a deeply divided and crumbling empire. Determined to guide him to reforms that will bring Russia into the modern age, Maria faces implacable opposition from Nicholas's wife, Alexandra, whose fervor has led her into a disturbing relationship with a mystic named Rasputin. -- adapted from jacket