An honest look at the life of the mistress of Nicholas II and one of the ballet's greatest performers. Mathilde Kschessinska was a survivor...rising throught the ranks of the ballet in Russia, capturing the eye of the then Tsarevich, and becoming one of the movers and shakers of ballet society, this lady led a charmed existence until the Russian Revolution. Cast out of her country, Kschessinska continued to make a name for herself in France, marrying a Grand Duke and raising her son while supporting herself by running a ballet school and writing her memoirs. An interesting read. ( )