The Summer Palaces of the Romanovs: Treasures from Tsarskoye Selo Hardcover – November 5, 2012

This book is a real treasure. The photography is gorgeous and the historical text is highly informative. This book is so wonderful because many readers are unaware of the massive damage that many, if not all, of the imperial palaces and residences suffered during World War II. Some reviewers lamented over not having enough photos or info on the other residences within Tsarskoe Selo besides the Catherine Palace, such as the Alexander Palace (which was the favorite residence of Tsar Nicholas II and his family). Unfortunately, the Alexander Palace and other monuments within the grounds are still under renovation (or pending renovation), so it's understandable that this volume centers on the Catherine Palace which has undergone extensive renovation (much of which has been completed within the last few years such as the magnificent Amber Room). I have visited Tsarskoe Selo and to say it is spectacular is an understatement. This text provides a glimpse of many of the artifacts within the Catherine Palace including gorgeous, and priceless, Russian portraits and paintings by other famous artists. The book does come in a superb slip cover which, as one reviewer indicated, is more like a box - but that is really due to the dimensions of the book itself. It is gorgeous and it is made of the trade cloth of which most fine books are made (I did not receive anything like a tin box). I highly recommend this stunning book for anyone fascinated by Imperial Russia. A definite Five Stars for me!!

This really is a stunningly beautiful production. The clam-shell case (not a slipcase as suggested) more closely resembles a jewelry box or one of those fancy candy or biscuit tins the Brits are so famous for. The photos are exquisite, great definition and clarity and the subject matter well chosen. The archival photos add significantly to a sense of the Palace's history. A well thought out division of chapter categories gives a nicely, rounded impression of the treasures contained within this historic site. The production quality, as other reviewers have noted, is top notch. Nice weight to the paper, handsomely bound, silk, ribbon page-marker and an eye-catching dust jacket. I've been a book seller and collector for many years and I know a gem when I see one. Kudos to you, Thames & Hudson, you hit all the sweet spots on this one. - Good timing, incidentally, anyone looking for a knockout Christmas present need look no further.

This book comes in its own box & bookmark . You can feel the passion that went into producing this book of the Russian imperial residences at Tsarkoye Selo. The palaces and parks are now 300 years old and much has been restored from the damage done by the Nazis in WWII. Many of the photographs show the detail of the restored walls, furniture, rooms, etc. The history of the construction and reconstruction of the palaces is quite interesting especially the Alexander Palace which was the favorite residence of the last Tsar and his family. This book is very special and has the latest restoration pictures. Originally copyrighted in Russia in 2010 it was translated from French to English in 2012.

This is an absolutely wonderful book with great photos of many elements outside and inside of the palaces of Tsarskoye Selo. The written comments are very informative and interesting. As a avid reader of Romanov history I was most pleased with this work and viewed some photos I had not seen before. This is a real pleasure to have in my library of Russian history.

This book is certainly a fabulous addition to my library. First of all, it comes in a beautiful "box" so when you open it you feel like you are opening a wonderful present. Other reviewers here have called it a slipcase but it is not. You have to remove the box from your bookshelf, put it down and open the cover in order to access the book - something you don't have to do with a slipcase. Secondly, the book is printed on very high grade paper and the photos are so beautiful. If you are a fan of the Romanov's or Russian history, this book demands to be in your collection. If there is a downside to this book, it is the fact that (as other reviewers have stated) the photos focus more on the details of the Catherine Palace. For example, there are stunning photos of a chair leg, a wall relief, sculptures, snuff boxes, etc. There are very, very few photos of full room interiors. It would have been nice to get more of a view of black/white photo of a room and show it as it is now - in color. A few are in the book, but not enough to satisfy my curiosity. This is why I did not rate it a 5.

Here is another fine book on the Romanovs. The pictures are lovely, the shipping timely, and the quality of the book was superb.As I have several books on this subject, I can recommend this book as a fine addition to my collection. Many thanks to Emmanuel Ducamp for his efforts to show the public what the Romanovs enjoyed in this wonderful book.

it is a nice book but it doesn't have enough nice pictures of the palaces and the interiors. it's more focused on the details.

This book is literally a work of art. Superbly produced with a slipcover and of the finest quality. The subject matter is well-covered and unusually presented in that each chapter captures in a tactile and sensual way the materials and visuals that exemplify Tsarskoye Selo. A masterpiece and highly recommended.