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Rasputin

The Biography

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Rasputin

By: Douglas Smith
Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
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About this listen

A hundred years after his murder, Rasputin continues to excite the popular imagination as the personification of evil. The spectre of the lustful Siberian holy man and peasant still casts its eerie shadow over Russia's bloody 20th century.

Numerous biographies, novels, and films recount his mysterious rise to power as Nicholas and Alexandra's confidant and guardian of the sickly heir to the throne. His debauchery and sinister political influence are the stuff of legend, and the downfall of the Romanov dynasty was laid at his feet. Even during his lifetime Rasputin was shrouded in myth, and his true story remains obscure today.

Douglas Smith's Rasputin separates fact from fiction to reveal the true life of one of history's most alluring figures. Rasputin draws on a wealth of forgotten documents from archives in seven countries and is the most thoroughly researched biography ever written. Demolishing the caricature of the holy devil, Smith's account presents Rasputin in all his complexity - man of God, voice of peace, loyal subject, adulterer, drunkard. More than just the story of an extraordinary life, Rasputin offers a fascinating portrait of the twilight of Imperial Russia as it lurched towards catastrophe.

©2016 Douglas Smith (P)2016 Macmillan Digital Audio 20th Century Historical Military Modern Russia Biography War Scary Imperialism Middle Ages Soviet Union

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All stars
Most relevant
Douglas Smith has taken every story we know about Rasputin and delved into the facts like an historical detective. He has found discrepancies on dates and a lot of 'fake news'.
It is a fascinating, thorough read, which also imparts much about the desperation and susceptibility of the Russian Empress and society at the time.

Definitive biography on Rasputin

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I'm fairly ignorant when it comes to history so a lot of this was new to me and I got a lot out of it. I've learnt a lot about Rasputin, Russian society before the revolution and some of the causes of the revolution and also the Orthodox Christian church. But boy is this a long book! You have to concentrate hard and I found the narrator's style a little odd and robotic. But I reccommend.

More (and less) to Rasputin than The Boney M song

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Book ruined by the narrator. Is this a made up accent? Verbal emphasis in all the wrong places.

Narrator

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I understand the need to explain the historical context of a person but I do feel there was a bit too much about 'other' people ; it felt like the history of the Romanovs more than anything else. The murder of Rasputin was a very small section of the book and warranted further examination. The conclusion was nigh on non-existent. Still, a good book if looking for a more general history book. Could have been tightened by cutting down the length by half.

A good piece but overly long.

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Breaks through the myths of Rasputin and reveals something much more compelling about power, propaganda and belief.

An astounding achievement

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