c1988: Written in a very plain style with very little embellishment but I certainly got the idea that this Grand Duchess was quite a formidable person. Not much emotion in this book either despite all the tragic things that happened. Recommended to the history buffs in the normal crew. "
After dinner all the gentlemen went with the King to smoke, and the ladies remained with the Queen. As I am an inveterate smoker this was real agony, since the ladies were not supposed to smoke."