This is the first full biography of Rasputin that I've read. Popular narratives tend to make the man out to be a wicked sorcerer who is impossible to kill, and I understand why it's so pervasive. It's much harder to understand a man who left barely any personal recollections as he was nearly illiterate; his upbringing in deep Siberia, his partial religious education, and his rise to political dominance are left to history's speculation. Fuhrmann does a good job of relaying facts, exploring characters affected by Rasputin's rise, and dealing with the royal family's political and cultural collapse. The reader is not unaware of a certain pro-Rasputin bias, and there is a level of poetic speculation that seems unconnected to the rest of the firmly researched, scholarly tone of the book. The intricacies of the last decades of Romanov rule become accessible even to the freshest newcomer to the subject (me), so perhaps people already well-versed in the dynastic collapse would be better served with another book. Or maybe it'd be a great read. I thought it was. ( )

This is a biography of Gregory Rasputin. Born a peasant in Siberia, he became religious and powerful as he befriended Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra. He was often manipulative and many people hated him. He was murdered shortly before the revolution when the Romanovs were murdered themselves.

This was very good and seemed to be well-researched. The author apparently was able to get to some documents and files that had not before been released. It's an interesting story, as a whole, and while parts of the story do focus on Nicholas and Alexandra, where Rasputin was, what he was doing, and his influence on the Romanovs was what the book was about. There were a few less interesting parts for me – mostly the politics – but overall, I thought it was very good and well worth reading for anyone interested in the Romanovs. ( )

When I read a book I carry it around with me everywhere, that is the only way I can ever finish them. Walking into the elevator at work carrying this book someone looked and it and remarked: “Rasputin, the mad monk of Russia.” I just smiled at him, I was far enough in the book to realize what Joseph Fuhrmann said at the beginning of this book, Rasputin wasn’t a monk and he wasn’t mad. He is a fascinating historical figure, he is also complicated, unsavory, ambitious, manipulative, partially responsible for the end of the Russian Empire and in the end murdered.

Much of the information in this book is taken from previously closed Soviet archives and contains new information and pictures of Rasputin and others of the time. There are police reports and personal letters included. Mr. Fuhrmann is careful to keep the facts straight and explains when there are discrepancies between the official record and personal accounts, he will make a statement and report why he feels that is so. This is a very detailed account and while not boring, I found I could not really get into it, I had a lot of trouble finishing it. I gave it the rating I did because I found it informative and interesting even though I had trouble sticking with it.

In conclusion I would say that if you are really into Russian history or Rasputin and the Romanovs you might enjoy this book. ( )

A fairly detailed account of the life of the notorious and influential holy man turned politician. Rasputin's character which so greatly entwined with the fate of the Romanov's is shown in this book from a rather neutral point of view.

The author see's him as neither all bad but certainly not in any way a positive in the events that led to the ultimate demise of the last Czar. The real question left unanswered was whether their fall would have been in any way avoided without his presence.

There is little evidence in the book that the outcome would have been different just that his perception and meddling hastened things. No doubt his excesses in personal conduct and failings led to the fall of himself and the family. ( )