The Grand Duchess of Nowhere

Book excerpt: Inspired by the biography of a British royal, a historical novel about a princess who defied her family by marrying a Romanov. As a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Victoria Melita—known affectionately as Ducky—must abide by the rules of the royal family and make a suitable match. But Ducky is young and infatuated with a Romanov, a member of the doomed Russian imperial family. Risking everything to be with the man she loves, she forges her own path. From her exile to Paris to her glamourous life in St. Petersburg, Ducky narrates the story of her extraordinary journey—at the center of the chaos of the Russian revolution and the demise of the Romanov dynasty. Praise for Laurie Graham “Graham’s style is riveting.” —The Times (London) “Laurie Graham has a wonderfully light, deft touch.” —Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Empire Falls “Why is Laurie Graham not carried on people’s shoulders through cheering crowds? Her books are brilliant!” —Marian Keyes, international bestselling author of Again, Rachel and Grown Ups