Living Banner
A Novel of Historical Suspense
Living Banner is a time-slip novel interweaving the Romanov family’s misfortunes with the fictional rise of an obscure American professor, Steve Swete, to an incredible position of authority and worldwide recognition within the Kremlin’s inner circle. After Steve discovers his father is Grand Duke Michael’s son and the Romanov heir, his father is murdered and Steve becomes the new heir. At first, Steve resists the Romanov legacy. But when his life is threatened by Federation enemies, Steve and his wife must accept assistance from Romanov supporters and run for their lives. Throughout a complex journey of intrigue, which includes moving between safe houses on three continents, Steve grapples with the pain of his father’s deception and the weight of an unwanted destiny.
Living Banner features the life of His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich Romanov and completes his dream of a democratic Russia–100 years after his murder.
Grand Duke Mikhail Aleksandrovich of Russia was his brother Nicholas II’s successor–Michael II. During World War I, Mikhail was the General in Chief of the Caucasian Division, well-known as the Savage Division. His officers and soldiers loved him because he shared the trenches and fought side by side with them, treating them all—Muslims, Catholics, and Orthodox—with equal respect. During the last turbulent days of his brother Nicholas II’s reign, the Grand Duke was well-regarded as the only one who could save the monarchy from chaos, revolution, and Lenin’s Bolsheviks.
Previously suppressed Soviet documents located in the Russian Federation State Archives (GARF) reveal Grand Duke Michael’s importance as Imperial Russia’s last legitimate emperor and a strong supporter of transitioning Russia from an autocracy to a constitutional monarchy. However, nine days before a public referendum could be held in 1917, Lenin’s Bolsheviks seized power, imprisoned Michael, and sent him to Siberia. Since Lenin feared Michael would become a living banner around whom the people would rally, Michael has the dubious distinction of being the first Romanov murdered–he was 39 years old. (Nicholas II and his family were murdered a month later.)
Mikhail Aleksandrovich Romanov, Born December 4, 1878 — Murdered June 13, 1918
Click here to read Chapter One of Living Banner.