The mystery of Princess Tarakanova by Edvard Radzinsky. Short summary

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Flavitsky’s painting depicts Princess Tarakanova, with water coming up on all sides. She was imprisoned for posing as a royal and died in the flood.

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Flavitsky’s painting depicts a magnificent stranger, Princess Tarakanova. The woman suffers in gloomy captivity. From all sides water comes up to her feet.

The artist’s work tells the story of the death of the princess in prison, which occurred as a result of the flood. However, modern historians, including the author of the work, have a different point of view on the circumstances and causes of the death of the princess.

It is not known for certain whether the princess was a charming charlatan, passing herself off as a royal, who was caught red-handed, or whether she sincerely believed in her origins. Radzinsky presents Tarakanova as a talented adventuress and fantasist who believed in her own fantasies.

While walking with yet another suitor, Alin claims that her mother is a noblewoman who entrusted her upbringing to a woman. She grew up well off, but one day her mother died. Suddenly the princess laughs and says she read the story in a book.