Rasputin

About the Book

'THE GOLD STANDARD OF NARRATIVE HISTORY' - DAN SNOW

How could a barely literate peasant from Siberia determine the fate of the world? Undoubtedly, the so-called 'mad monk' Rasputin bewitched Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra. Yet their strange and scandalous relationship conceals a riddle, one that casts an intriguing light on the controversial 'great man' theory of history.

Rasputin was a devoted monarchist, not a revolutionary. He had no official position, no forces at his command. Nevertheless, he contributed more to the fall of the Romanov dynasty than any other individual. So demoralised was the Tsarist officer corps by stories of corruption, to say nothing of the rumours of his debauchery with the Empress - and even her daughters - that when the February Revolution broke out, not a sword was raised in defence of the regime.

Just as Rasputin cast a spell over the Romanovs, his legend has bewitched historians. More than a century later, we still fail to comprehend fully the collapse of the greatest autocracy on Earth. Was there any truth to the wild tales that brought down the empire? Or was his true legacy an unsettling lesson on the potency of myth?

About the Author :
ANTONY BEEVOR's previous book was Russia: Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921. Earlier works include Stalingrad, Berlin, D-Day, The Battle for Spain and The Second World War. His writing, which has received major prizes, has appeared in thirty-seven languages and sold more than nine million copies. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Historical Society, he has received honorary doctorates and fellowships from five universities. He was knighted in 2017.

Review :
A stunning achievement of psychological insight, deep research, and evocative prose that adds to his illustrious career as a chronicler of the 20th century, Antony Beevor's Rasputin not only captures the mysterious Siberian holy man in all his bizarre complexity - the feverish religiosity, the preening ambition, the drunken lust as well as the sincere concern for the peasantry and fear of war - but also paints a vivid portrait of tsarist Russia hurtling toward the abyss. A must read for understanding the epic downfall of the Romanov dynasty Totally fascinating, compelling and beautifully written. In its deep political and psychological understanding of Rasputin, the Romanovs and Russia itself, it's intriguing and original. One of the great stories of history, told by one of our greatest historians We have come to expect narrative clarity from Antony Beevor, and in his latest book, he doesn't disappoint. Pushing away the myths and legends that surround Rasputin, Beevor brings us a plausible psychological portrait, a very readable account of an extraordinary life, and a tale of autocratic decline with plenty of contemporary analogies, for readers who care to see them Who was Grigory Rasputin? Shaman, healer, abuser of women, favourite of the Tsaritsa, this is the peasant who altered Russian history. In this stunning banquet of a book, Antony Beevor gives us the rich and ripe flavour of his shape-shifting powers From Antony Beevor's scrupulous history, Rasputin emerges as even more bizarre and fascinating than the creature of popular myth Incisive and illuminating. This extraordinary story has never been better told For well over a generation, Beevor has been the gold standard of narrative history A wonderful book. Beevor has written a brilliant and vivid account of how a barely literate peasant beguiled the Romanovs, and helped plunge imperial Russia into chaos and revolution. Rasputin's fantastical story anticipates our own truth-challenged times, when myth and fake news can be more potent than reality