Book reviews

The name “Rasputin” has, of course, become amazingly famous for its connection with sex and violence. Both Rasputin’s rapacious sexual capacity, and the incredible violence visited on Rasputin’s body by his killers, have become almost legendary.

But who was Rasputin? Where did he come from? What was his impact, both short-term and long-term? Why was he killed, and what did his murder mean? And how did this man of relatively humble beginnings (he famously insisted that he was of peasant origins) achieve such notoriety? Furthermore, there were the men who killed him – who were they? What was their story?

Even nearly 90 years after his murder, very few facts in the story surrounding Grigori Rasputin are established – in fact, not even the year of his birth was known until a decade ago. The problem is that, although many books and films have been written and produced about the life of Rasputin, they were written and produced either by the people that he elevated to power or those who sought to tear him down. Therefore, separating fact from fiction is difficult – especially when so much about this enigmatic man had disappeared into myth. For instance, he is popularly known as “The Mad Monk”, but he was never a monk, nor had he had any formal affiliation with any religious order.

The man who killed Rasputin – Prince Felix Felixovich Youssoupov – is almost as notorious, enigmatic, and many-sided as the man he killed. Dozens of books have been published about him, including his own autobiography, and his story had been adapted for the stage and screen many times. The problem remains, however, that although Youssoupov’s autobiography has long been treated as the authoritative version of Rasputin’s murder, it was written for posterity; that is, the prince was careful to present only the most flattering portrait of his life. At times his autobiography is incredibly candid, at others withdrawn. As Mr. King writes in the preface to this book: “…Unfortunately for history, it is filled with inaccuracies, evasion, and lies. Although few historians have questioned the prince’s veracity, evidence exists which at the very least challenges many of his assertions concerning the crime.”

King’s book differs from many other books on the subject in that it does not stick to the ‘establishment’ story. While nominally a history book, this is far from being anywhere near the stereotyped ‘dusty’ history familiar to any suffering high school student; King’s writing is methodical, well-researched and informative, but clear and entertaining. He never forgets that the historian, above all, must be a good storyteller.

King’s book is logically divided into four parts. In the first, he introduces us to Rasputin: where he came from, how he rose to power, the miracles he worked – and why people believed in him – and, eventually, the downfall of Russia’s government in 1917.

In the second part, King introduces us to the second major protagonist in the story – Felix Youssoupov himself. We learn of his childhood, his youth, his education and marriage, his decision to murder Rasputin, and the deception he worked in order to trap Rasputin and get off his guard.

Part three deals with the crime itself – how it happened, the ensuing police report, the reaction in Russia and abroad, and the escape of Youssoupov and his fellow conspirators. As well as the official explanation to Rasputin’s death, it offers alternate solutions.

Finally, in the fourth part, King deals with the after-effects of the murder – Youssoupov’s exile abroad and his growing troubles, the trial he brought against MGM for misrepresenting him in their film about the murder, and the last years of his life.

A word of warning: It may be that you will find some or all Mr. King’s theories shocking, disagreeable, or even offensive. Please remember that the Rasputin subject matter is extremely controversial, and that when dealing with the people’s possible private motives – especially when it comes to a murder as important as that of Rasputin’s – no possible solution can be discounted out of hand, particularly if there is evidence to support it, as there is here.

Immaculately researched from dozens of Russian and international books, periodicals, and newspapers on the murder, along with sixteen photographs that had only been recently released at the time of publication, this book is history as it should be taught. A pure, unalloyed delight for anyone with even a passing interest in history, and a must-read for all Russophiles. Two thumbs up!