Based upon long-lost contemporary documents, this biography presents a sensational account of the life of the Russian peasant mystic whose malign influence led to the downfall of the Romanovs.
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Whilst the Russian revolution of 1917 was undoubtedly a revolt of the masses--disgruntled peasants, weary soldiers and sailors, and angry industrial workers--there was one man whose singular role in the downfall of the Tsarist regime is beyond dispute: Grigory Rasputin. Rasputin, a peasant turned religious mystic, became court sage to the imperial family in the last decade of its existence, after his extraordinary powers seemed to have cured Alexei, Nicholas II's haemophiliac son. Rasputin and his band of mainly female followers came to symbolise all that was decadent, corrupt and remote about the Imperial family, especially when it was rumoured that Rasputin was not only shaping Russian policy during the First World War, but was also enjoying an intimate relationship with the empress. Utilising the file of the Commission of Inquiry, set up in March 1917 to investigate Rasputin's activities, Edvard Radzinsky, the author of the acclaimed The Last Tsar, tells the colourful tale of Rasputin's life--his membership of the Khlyst religious sect, his predatory sexuality, his scheming against his enemies and, in an impressive climax, all the grisly details of his murder in December 1916. The book reads like a film screenplay: vivid, compelling and unforgettable, like its subject. Miles Taylor
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Sensational new biography - using the discovery of long lost contemporary documents - of the Russian peasant mystic whose malign influence helped lead to the downfall of the Romanovs.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I looked forward to this book - but was sadly disappointed. I think that it has lost something in translation - and that the translator lacks a grasp of what makes writing interesting. My attention was diverted on numerous occasions by the repetitive use of the word ' and ' to begin sentences - as many as 5 times in a paragraph.
Additionally, and this is a failing on my part, I found it very hard to keep up with all the Russian names - the author's habit of referring to ' Our Friend ' and ' Friend ' didn't help.
Perhaps I should learn Russian.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By M. Duffy
Format:Paperback
A fasincating book, which does explains not only how Rasputin became so important, but, also the social, religious and political factors which affected Russia at this time.
But, it still does not explain Rasputin. He is called "this mysterious man" throughout the book and indeed the heart of the man remains a mystery. Mystical healers and "Holy Men/Women" abounded at that time and belief in them absolute in some quarters. The book partly explains what made Rasputin different from they others, but, not completely.
The book certainly made me want to know more.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Po Bear
Format:Paperback
I'm afraid I haven't finished this book - within the first few chapters I was heartily sick of hearing that the author did this, the author did that, and there was precious little fact to back up opinion. On page 30 the author states the opinion that; as in the cases of Hitler and Stalin; the fact that there was a series of infant deaths before Rasputin's birth should be taken to mean that God was giving a sign that the parents should not have procreated - and I find this kind of comment unneccessary, unhelpful and not what I wanted to be reading about when I pick up a book titled "Rasputin". I would far rather recommend Alex De Jonge's book on the subject, it carries opinion, but solidly backed with fact, and assumes that the reader has the intellegence to make their own judgement. It also has a pleasing lack of "preaching of opinion" by comparison
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Possibly brilliant
As a longtime Russophile with a fascination for all things Romanov I found this a brilliant read. You will need to wrestle with the large cast of characters who all seem to have... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Armchair Historian
5.0 out of 5 stars
THRILLER
IF YOU LIKE TO READ A THRILLER BASED ON EVIDENCE THAN EDVARD IS YOUR MAN,HE IS AN ABSOLUTE MESMERISER YOU START READING DICKINS AND END UP WITH JAMES HADLEY CHASE,HIS STYLE IS TO... Read more
Published 18 months ago by A. Hussain
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great book!
I got this book after watching a movie about Rasputin (Alan Rickman as Rasputin) because I was so fascinated with the character. This book did not disappoint! Read more
Published 21 months ago by J. Taylor
3.0 out of 5 stars
A simple story.
The title of this book says it all.The last word,should of been retitled Too many words!Trying to follow the basic story is spoilt by the authors condecending prose and irrelevent... Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2010 by david
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping...
From the very beginning Edvard Radzinsky attracts your attention regarding one of the most provocative and fascinating personalities that ever walked through Tsarist Russia. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2010 by Mental Food
4.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Book
This book is very well written with a lot of interesting facts about Rasputin, Russian history and culture. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2009 by Polycarp
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read
For my history essay for A-Level I decided to write about Rasputin and his influence on the tsar, however at the time I knew little about the topic. Read more
Published on 15 July 2008 by Simon Parker
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is a captivating book. just wonderful...
First of all, the Author has a wonderful style of writing. The link between different events and chapters is very well done and synchronized. Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2005
4.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful & Interesting
At times the book seemed to go into too much detail of things that there was no need to, but apart from that I found the book to be extremely interesting and also easy to read, a... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2004 by "emilou83"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rasputin - Victim or Villain? - an ever facinating story
When I saw that the title was Rasputin : THE LAST WORD I raised my eyebrow as I usually find such a sweeping statement a bit pretentious and pompous. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2004 by Amelrode
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