@alexdefircks.bsky.social
Family historian, writer and storyteller, https://www.alexdefircks.com/
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Do you like to support your local businesses? I do. So do you know you can order Upheaval through your local bookshop? Just give them the details below and support your local bookshop.
Libraries are custodians of some of the most important things, including ideas www.alexdefircks.com/perhaps-the-...
Perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of weapons are being housed in a library near you… - Alex de Fircks
I have always belonged to a library, well as far back as I can remember anyway. It is one of the first memberships I seek out when I move to a new location.
www.alexdefircks.com
January 25, 2026 at 3:15 AM
Libraries are custodians of some of the most important things, including ideas www.alexdefircks.com/perhaps-the-...
Looking at old family photos for this week's blog post - can you see the similarities? www.alexdefircks.com/three-photos...
Three photos of three generations along the matrilineal line, all around the same age - Alex de Fircks
I’m very lucky to have these family photos. They are a very small sample of the many photos I inherited. Unfortunately, they are also an example of improperly
www.alexdefircks.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Looking at old family photos for this week's blog post - can you see the similarities? www.alexdefircks.com/three-photos...
When was my grandfather really born? Which date should I use? Family historians will understand the issues here. www.alexdefircks.com/my-grandfath...
My grandfather was born in 1886 but, thanks to Lenin, his birthday was changed to 1887 - Alex de Fircks
Today, January 11th, was my grandfather's birthday. Or was it? My grandfather, Pavel Voronov (Paul Woronoff) was born on December 29, 1886, or was he? I have
www.alexdefircks.com
January 11, 2026 at 3:44 AM
When was my grandfather really born? Which date should I use? Family historians will understand the issues here. www.alexdefircks.com/my-grandfath...
I grew up celebrating two Christmases, one on the 25th December then Russian Orthodox Christmas on 7th January.
If you didn't manage to order Upheaval in time for 25th December, you still have time to put your order in for 7th January, through @downingfield.bsky.social
If you didn't manage to order Upheaval in time for 25th December, you still have time to put your order in for 7th January, through @downingfield.bsky.social
December 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I grew up celebrating two Christmases, one on the 25th December then Russian Orthodox Christmas on 7th January.
If you didn't manage to order Upheaval in time for 25th December, you still have time to put your order in for 7th January, through @downingfield.bsky.social
If you didn't manage to order Upheaval in time for 25th December, you still have time to put your order in for 7th January, through @downingfield.bsky.social
Reposted
A great last-minute Christmas gift idea!
Do you know someone who is fascinated with Imperial Russia?
Upheaval would be the perfect present for them!
You can buy it through my website or through @downingfield.bsky.social
Upheaval would be the perfect present for them!
You can buy it through my website or through @downingfield.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 12:10 PM
A great last-minute Christmas gift idea!
This week's blog post looks at what inspired me to write the 2nd edition of Upheaval and the differences between it and the original manuscript. www.alexdefircks.com/what-could-p...
What could possibly have inspired me to taken on a project like Upheaval, which took me over six years to complete? - Alex de Fircks
That was a question I was asked during the book launch for the 2nd edition of Upheaval and a question which I’m often asked by both friends and contacts on
www.alexdefircks.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:01 AM
This week's blog post looks at what inspired me to write the 2nd edition of Upheaval and the differences between it and the original manuscript. www.alexdefircks.com/what-could-p...
A gift for the history lover. Available at www.alexdefircks.com or @downingfield.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 3:56 AM
A gift for the history lover. Available at www.alexdefircks.com or @downingfield.bsky.social
Do you know someone who is fascinated with Imperial Russia?
Upheaval would be the perfect present for them!
You can buy it through my website or through @downingfield.bsky.social
Upheaval would be the perfect present for them!
You can buy it through my website or through @downingfield.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Do you know someone who is fascinated with Imperial Russia?
Upheaval would be the perfect present for them!
You can buy it through my website or through @downingfield.bsky.social
Upheaval would be the perfect present for them!
You can buy it through my website or through @downingfield.bsky.social
Sorting material for the sequel to Upheaval and running out of desk space 🙄 If you haven't had a chance to buy Upheaval yet, here's the link downingfield.com/book/upheaval
November 29, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Sorting material for the sequel to Upheaval and running out of desk space 🙄 If you haven't had a chance to buy Upheaval yet, here's the link downingfield.com/book/upheaval
Reposted
Please NEVER pay a publisher to publish your work. The publisher PAYS you. If they’re asking for money, something is not right.
November 29, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Please NEVER pay a publisher to publish your work. The publisher PAYS you. If they’re asking for money, something is not right.
I've always been curious about the reasons behind decisions my ancestors made and recently, I discovered that Human Design can shine a light on their choices. www.alexdefircks.com/would-you-li...
Would you like to know why your ancestors made certain decisions? Its possible with Human Design - Alex de Fircks
It is now possible to gain these insights through human design.
www.alexdefircks.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:44 AM
I've always been curious about the reasons behind decisions my ancestors made and recently, I discovered that Human Design can shine a light on their choices. www.alexdefircks.com/would-you-li...
Do you like to support your local businesses? I do. So do you know you can order Upheaval through your local bookshop? Just give them the details below and support your local bookshop.
November 8, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Do you like to support your local businesses? I do. So do you know you can order Upheaval through your local bookshop? Just give them the details below and support your local bookshop.
Reposted
📘 Want to get your hands on Upheaval: A Story of Russia, Romanovs, and Revolution?
You’ve got options!
🛍️ Buy in-store: Ask your local bookshop to order it in for you. ISBN: 9781923513013
🌐 Find a retailer: www.downingfield.com/upheaval
📱 Prefer digital? Get e-book version! ISBN: 9781923513037
You’ve got options!
🛍️ Buy in-store: Ask your local bookshop to order it in for you. ISBN: 9781923513013
🌐 Find a retailer: www.downingfield.com/upheaval
📱 Prefer digital? Get e-book version! ISBN: 9781923513037
Upheaval
Step into the glittering world of Imperial Russia – and witness its dramatic fall – through the eyes of Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel. ...
www.downingfield.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:59 PM
📘 Want to get your hands on Upheaval: A Story of Russia, Romanovs, and Revolution?
You’ve got options!
🛍️ Buy in-store: Ask your local bookshop to order it in for you. ISBN: 9781923513013
🌐 Find a retailer: www.downingfield.com/upheaval
📱 Prefer digital? Get e-book version! ISBN: 9781923513037
You’ve got options!
🛍️ Buy in-store: Ask your local bookshop to order it in for you. ISBN: 9781923513013
🌐 Find a retailer: www.downingfield.com/upheaval
📱 Prefer digital? Get e-book version! ISBN: 9781923513037
This article really hits the mark. Without my grandmother's notes, diary and correspondence it would have been difficult to produce the 2nd edition of Upheaval, her memoir about life in Russia before and during the Revolution and Civil War. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Literary detective work is thrilling, but biographers face challenge in age of AI
How will the work of biographers change as letters, diaries and photographs are replaced by emails, texts and snapshots on the cloud?
www.abc.net.au
November 3, 2025 at 1:02 AM
This article really hits the mark. Without my grandmother's notes, diary and correspondence it would have been difficult to produce the 2nd edition of Upheaval, her memoir about life in Russia before and during the Revolution and Civil War. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Reposted
Interested in Russian history? Don't miss out – the second edition of Olga Woronoff's ‘Upheaval’ is the #1 best selling Imperial Russian history title at the moment!
BUY NOW: downingfield.com/upheaval
BUY NOW: downingfield.com/upheaval
November 1, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Interested in Russian history? Don't miss out – the second edition of Olga Woronoff's ‘Upheaval’ is the #1 best selling Imperial Russian history title at the moment!
BUY NOW: downingfield.com/upheaval
BUY NOW: downingfield.com/upheaval
My books have arrived! So exciting to see the 2nd edition of Upheaval in print! If you're excited too, or would like to purchase the book, visit my website www.alexdefircks.com or check out @downingfield.bsky.social #books #memoir
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
My books have arrived! So exciting to see the 2nd edition of Upheaval in print! If you're excited too, or would like to purchase the book, visit my website www.alexdefircks.com or check out @downingfield.bsky.social #books #memoir
Reposted
NOW AVAILABLE — UPHEAVAL is not just a memoir – it’s a historical treasure.
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs
October 20, 2025 at 3:21 AM
NOW AVAILABLE — UPHEAVAL is not just a memoir – it’s a historical treasure.
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs
We had a fabulous time at the launch for the 2nd edition of Upheaval. If you couldn't join us, here is the link for the recording: youtu.be/t6uPdD76u9o
October 17, 2025 at 5:33 AM
We had a fabulous time at the launch for the 2nd edition of Upheaval. If you couldn't join us, here is the link for the recording: youtu.be/t6uPdD76u9o
Publication day!!!
NOW AVAILABLE — UPHEAVAL is not just a memoir – it’s a historical treasure.
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs
October 13, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Publication day!!!
Today's blog post reflects on my grandmother's memoir Upheaval, and looks to the launch of the 2nd edition this coming Wednesday. Links to the launch are in the post and everyone is welcome to join! www.alexdefircks.com/olga-woronof...
Olga Woronoff dedicated Upheaval to her daughter, I’m dedicating the 2nd edition to my sons - Alex de Fircks
First published in 1932, my grandmother dedicated her memoir, Upheaval to her daughter and only child, Tatiana, who was also my mother.
www.alexdefircks.com
October 12, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Today's blog post reflects on my grandmother's memoir Upheaval, and looks to the launch of the 2nd edition this coming Wednesday. Links to the launch are in the post and everyone is welcome to join! www.alexdefircks.com/olga-woronof...
I'm looking forward to this and seeing you there!
COMING SOON — UPHEAVAL is not just a memoir – it’s a historical treasure.
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs #History
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs #History
October 9, 2025 at 6:06 AM
I'm looking forward to this and seeing you there!
Happening next week! I hope to see you there!
7pm AEST, 15 OCT 2025: Join us for the online launch of the updated second edition of Olga Woronoff's ‘Upheaval’, featuring a live Q+A panel discussion between Olga Woronoff's granddaughter Alex de Fircks and Romanov historian Helen Azar.
JOIN THE EVENT: teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-joi...
JOIN THE EVENT: teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-joi...
October 6, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Happening next week! I hope to see you there!
I hope you can join us!
7pm AEST, 15 OCT 2025: Join us for the online launch of the updated second edition of Olga Woronoff's ‘Upheaval’, featuring a live Q+A panel discussion between Olga Woronoff's granddaughter Alex de Fircks and Romanov historian Helen Azar.
JOIN THE EVENT: teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-joi...
JOIN THE EVENT: teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-joi...
October 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I hope you can join us!
Reposted
COMING SOON — UPHEAVAL is not just a memoir – it’s a historical treasure.
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs #History
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs #History
September 27, 2025 at 1:33 AM
COMING SOON — UPHEAVAL is not just a memoir – it’s a historical treasure.
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs #History
Born into Russian aristocracy, Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel lived a life of privilege, beauty, and tradition—until revolution.
Learn more and find a local bookshop: downingfield.com/upheaval
#Romanovs #History
Booth Tarkington, who twice won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, wrote the Introduction to the original edition of Upheaval. He praised the manuscript in this letter, written by the mother of Tarkington's secretary to my grandmother. www.alexdefircks.com/olga-woronof...
Olga Woronoff, Upheaval and the Booth Tarkington connection - Alex de Fircks
Booth Tarkington, who twice won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, in 1919 and 1922, wrote the Introduction to the original edition of my grandmother’s memoir,
www.alexdefircks.com
September 14, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Booth Tarkington, who twice won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, wrote the Introduction to the original edition of Upheaval. He praised the manuscript in this letter, written by the mother of Tarkington's secretary to my grandmother. www.alexdefircks.com/olga-woronof...