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c 1800 to c 1900, 20th century, General & world history, History: earliest times to present day, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, Russian Revolution
Was Grigori Rasputin a visionary, a fraud, or a victim of history? Antony Beevor searches for the truth about the great seducer of the Romanovs, the wild mystic who laid the ground for the Russian Revolution
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'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?
More books by Antony Beevor
Praise for Rasputin: And the Downfall of the Romanovs
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His most brilliant book to date - a masterpiece of historical imagination - John Gray, praise for RUSSIA
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A historian at the top of his powers . . . If anyone needs to know why history matters, this book has the answers. Stunning - James Holland, praise for RUSSIA
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A masterpiece of history - DAILY TELEGRAPH, praise for RUSSIA
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Beevor is one of our finest narrative historians . . . A masterclass - THE TIMES
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Exceptionally well-sourced, morally serious and often darkly comic - SPECTATOR
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Totally fascinating, compelling and beautifully written. One of the great stories of history, told by one of our greatest historians
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A stunning achievement of psychological insight, deep research and evocative prose . . . A must-read
Antony Beevor
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.
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