The Princess of Siberia - The Story of Maria Volkonsky and the Decembrist Exiles (Christine Sutherland, 1984)

Decembrists (so named because their short-lived revolution was launched in December (1825)) are oft-encountered in Russia history and literature, but I never had read any detail about them.

The Decembrists were aristocrats (often military); exposed to liberal ideas via French Revolution and Napoleonic wars; anxious for drastic change in Russia but lacking organizational skills and ruthlessness - it's hard to run a revolution!  Splits develop in revolutionary groups in northern and southern Russia; things are drifting; then the Tsar suddenly dies and the Decembrists decide they need to strike during a momentary potential power vacuum.  But many don't follow through; secret police are reasonably effective; the movement entirely fails.

And the new Tsar (Nicholas I) never forgets these traitors - a few executions, most exiled to Siberia.  No amnesty until Nicholas dies about 30 years later.

While Siberian exile wasn't new, this was a fairly novel large-scale deportation.

Protagonist was the young wife of an exile - she was from a wealthy family, completely unaware of her new husband's participation in the revolution.  Yet she immediately followed him to Siberia (as did other wives) - over the Tsar's objections and threats - and she (and the other wives) managed to build interesting lives in an incredibly remote location.  Along with essential support for their husbands.  These wives were impressive - and Maria Volkonsky in fact was commonly referred to as "The Princess of Siberia."

Even after amnesty - many Decembrists remained in Siberia - where they were comfortable after spending decades.

Decembrists have very favorable reputations.

Tolstoy started a novel about them but for whatever reason didn't pull it off.

This is a useful read alongside the Romanovs book, dovetails nicely.