Rasputin : faith, power, and the twilight of the Romanovs / Douglas Smith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, Douglas, 1962- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Rasputin, Grigoriĭ Efimovich, 1869-1916.

Rasputin, Grigoriĭ Efimovich.

Romanov, House of.

Russia--Court and courtiers--Biography.

Russia.

Courts and courtiers.

Russia--History--Nicholas II, 1894-1917.

History.

Russia--Politics and government--1894-1917.

Politics and government.

Genre:

Biographies.

History.

Physical Description:

xx, 817 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Edition:

First American edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016.

Summary:

"On the centenary of the death of Rasputin comes a definitive biography that will dramatically change our understanding of this fascinating figure. A hundred years after his murder, Rasputin continues to excite the popular imagination as the personification of evil. Numerous biographies, novels, and films recount his mysterious rise to power as Nicholas and Alexandra's confidant and the guardian of the sickly heir to the Russian throne. His debauchery and sinister political influence are the stuff of legend, and the downfall of the Romanov dynasty was laid at his feet. But as the prizewinning historian Douglas Smith shows, the true story of Rasputin's life and death has remained shrouded in myth. A major new work that combines probing scholarship and powerful storytelling, Rasputin separates fact from fiction to reveal the real life of one of history's most alluring figures. Drawing on a wealth of forgotten documents from archives in seven countries, Smith presents Rasputin in all his complexity--man of God, voice of peace, loyal subject, adulterer, drunkard. Rasputin is not just a definitive biography of an extraordinary and legendary man but a fascinating portrait of the twilight of imperial Russia as it lurched toward catastrophe."-- Provided by publisher.

"The definitive biography of Rasputin, spiritual guide to the Romanovs and source of great political intrigue, based on many new documents"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: The Holy Devil?

Holy pilgrim: 1869-1904

Our friend: 1905-1909

Scandals: 1910-1911

A time of miracles: 1912-July 1914

War: July 1914-1915

The final year: 1916

The aftermath: 1917-1918

Epilogue.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780374240844

0374240841

OCLC:

952567030

Publisher Number:

40026608296