Baroness Sophie Buxgevden, also known as Sophia Karlovna Buxgevden, was born on September 6, 1883, and passed away on November 26, 1956. She was one of the ladies-in-waiting to Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna, the wife of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II. Sophie Buxgevden left behind three memoirs in which she described the life of the imperial family and her own dramatic escape from Russia after the revolution.

In her book "Before the Storm," Sophie Buxgevden reveals unique aspects of life in pre-revolutionary Russia that are rarely found in other sources. She warmly describes the lifestyle of the old provincial nobility, its traditions, and customs. These memories allow us to glimpse into a world that was destroyed by the revolutionary upheavals of the early 20th century. The baroness witnessed both the splendor of the imperial court and its tragic downfall.

Special attention in the memoirs is given to the personality of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna, who was the wife of Nicholas II. The reign of the last Russian emperor, as is known, was marked not only by the economic development of the country but also by significant socio-political contradictions. These contradictions ultimately led to the revolutionary events of 1905, 1907, the February Revolution of 1917, and the October Revolution, which changed the course of Russian history. Nicholas II, being the eldest son of Alexander III, was forced to abdicate the throne in March 1917, after which his family was placed under house arrest.

Among the many events described in the memoirs, a special place is occupied by the story of the impostor Anna Anderson, who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna. Sophie Buxgevden, who personally knew members of the imperial family, categorically rejected these claims. She believed that Anderson lacked both the physical resemblance and the manners characteristic of the real Anastasia. The baroness also mentions that Anderson initially tried to pass herself off as another grand duchess, Tatiana, but even in this case, Buxgevden did not believe her, noting that she was "too short" to be Tatiana.

Thus, Sophie Buxgevden's memoirs represent not only personal recollections but also an important historical source that sheds light on the life of the imperial family and the events that led to the collapse of the Russian Empire. They allow the modern reader to gain a deeper understanding of the complex and contradictory times in which the baroness lived and to feel the atmosphere of an era when the world of old Russia was forever lost to the past.