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Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs
When Russia's Dowager Empress was pregnant with the future Tsar, she dreamed that a peasant would one day kill her son. The idea terrified her, and for the rest of her days she 'lived under the pressure of the prophecy'.
Rasputin had no official position. A barely literate moujhik from Siberia, he had no forces at his command. He was a devoted monarchist, not a revolutionary. And yet, through his uncanny seduction of the imperial household, he contributed more than any other individual to the collapse of the greatest autocracy in the world. 'This man was unique', observed one writer. 'Like a character out of a novel, he lived in legend, he died in legend, and his memory is cloaked in legend.'
In this extraordinary new work, Antony Beevor, master of narrative history on the grandest scale, sharpens his focus to pierce the fog of fantasy that has only grown denser over time. The result is an unparalleled portrait of one of history's most dubious masterminds.
Rasputin had no official position. A barely literate moujhik from Siberia, he had no forces at his command. He was a devoted monarchist, not a revolutionary. And yet, through his uncanny seduction of the imperial household, he contributed more than any other individual to the collapse of the greatest autocracy in the world. 'This man was unique', observed one writer. 'Like a character out of a novel, he lived in legend, he died in legend, and his memory is cloaked in legend.'
In this extraordinary new work, Antony Beevor, master of narrative history on the grandest scale, sharpens his focus to pierce the fog of fantasy that has only grown denser over time. The result is an unparalleled portrait of one of history's most dubious masterminds.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2026
About the author
Antony Beevor
40 books2,802 followersSir Antony James Beevor is a British military historian. He has published several popular historical works, mainly on the Second World War, the Spanish Civil War, and most recently the Russian Revolution and Civil War.
Educated at Abberley Hall School, Winchester College, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Beevor commanded a troop of tanks in the 11th Hussars in Germany before deciding in 1970 to leave the army and become a writer. He was a visiting professor at Birkbeck, University of London, and the University of Kent. His best-selling books, Stalingrad (1998) and Berlin: The Downfall 1945 (2002), have been acclaimed for their detailed coverage of the battles between the Soviet Union and Germany, and their focus on the experiences of ordinary people. Berlin proved very controversial in Russia because of the information it contained from former Soviet archives about the mass rapes carried out by the Red Army in 1945.
Beevor's works have been translated into many languages and have sold millions of copies. He has lectured at numerous military headquarters, staff colleges and establishments in Britain, the US, Europe, and Australia. He has also written for many major newspapers.
Educated at Abberley Hall School, Winchester College, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Beevor commanded a troop of tanks in the 11th Hussars in Germany before deciding in 1970 to leave the army and become a writer. He was a visiting professor at Birkbeck, University of London, and the University of Kent. His best-selling books, Stalingrad (1998) and Berlin: The Downfall 1945 (2002), have been acclaimed for their detailed coverage of the battles between the Soviet Union and Germany, and their focus on the experiences of ordinary people. Berlin proved very controversial in Russia because of the information it contained from former Soviet archives about the mass rapes carried out by the Red Army in 1945.
Beevor's works have been translated into many languages and have sold millions of copies. He has lectured at numerous military headquarters, staff colleges and establishments in Britain, the US, Europe, and Australia. He has also written for many major newspapers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
August 31, 2026
In the early 1970s there was a flourishing of cultural interest in the history and fate of the last Tsar and his family and, as a young teenager, I was swept up in the grandeur and tragedy of it all.
Robert Massie’s biography ‘Nicholas and Alexandra’ (still one of the best) and the Hollywood biopic based on the book (with a classic cameo by Dr. Who’s Tom Baker as Rasputin), alongside choreographer Kenneth MacMillan’s three-act ‘Anastasia’ for the Royal Ballet, ensured that there was plenty of opportunity to enter a rabbit hole of this period of Russian history. I started researching - biographies, letters, histories and I’ve been a devotee ever since.
Beevor’s biography is good, but surprisingly lightweight given his reputation. I was expecting a much more detailed and lucid account of Rasputin’s life, but there’s too much general information that doesn’t place either Rasputin or the Romanovs themselves at the centre of the action. Given the amount of characters and explanatory paragraphs that pad the text throughout, the whole would be far better served by a separate list of biographies that the reader could access whenever needed.
Beevor is excellent on unravelling the myriad ‘hangers-on’ (perhaps too much so) and on his subject’s early life, but it all so becomes muddied and drawn out - rather than building tension - that it’s a relief to reach the assassination itself.
Perhaps a revisit after Beevor’s ‘Russia: Revolution and Civil War’ will help.
Robert Massie’s biography ‘Nicholas and Alexandra’ (still one of the best) and the Hollywood biopic based on the book (with a classic cameo by Dr. Who’s Tom Baker as Rasputin), alongside choreographer Kenneth MacMillan’s three-act ‘Anastasia’ for the Royal Ballet, ensured that there was plenty of opportunity to enter a rabbit hole of this period of Russian history. I started researching - biographies, letters, histories and I’ve been a devotee ever since.
Beevor’s biography is good, but surprisingly lightweight given his reputation. I was expecting a much more detailed and lucid account of Rasputin’s life, but there’s too much general information that doesn’t place either Rasputin or the Romanovs themselves at the centre of the action. Given the amount of characters and explanatory paragraphs that pad the text throughout, the whole would be far better served by a separate list of biographies that the reader could access whenever needed.
Beevor is excellent on unravelling the myriad ‘hangers-on’ (perhaps too much so) and on his subject’s early life, but it all so becomes muddied and drawn out - rather than building tension - that it’s a relief to reach the assassination itself.
Perhaps a revisit after Beevor’s ‘Russia: Revolution and Civil War’ will help.
June 18, 2026
I won't repeat well-known facts of Rasputin's life. Antony Beevor delivers the story in a popular history manner, thus making the book suitable for audio format. I enjoyed this book as I had read Rasputin's biography some 20 years ago. For younger audience, there is cartoon 'Anastasia,' a lovely romance, where Rasputin is depicted as an evil witch.
My only complaint is narrator's mispronounciation of some Russian surnames, including Rasputin himself who became Raspyutin.
My only complaint is narrator's mispronounciation of some Russian surnames, including Rasputin himself who became Raspyutin.
April 15, 2026
I am a bit of a history nerd and am particularly interested in the period of the last Russian tsar, Nicholas II - Robert Massie’s dual biography, Nicholas and Alexandria, remains a top favorite read. The author of this book is a distinguished historian so I was thrilled to gain access to this ARC (thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin Press - my thanks).
As Beevor writes in his Introduction, this is “not a conventional biography” but rather serves to focus on “the no-man’s land between truth and myth, [and] between fact and fiction.” As the book details there is so much misinformation and disinformation, it’s often impossible for the real Rasputin to emerge. Beevor has drawn from Russian archives “previously unpublished reports, interviews, and interrogations.” As you read, indeed, this is less about the man but about others thoughts of the man and how that impacted a diseased and morally corrupt nation.
The family under the influence of Alexandra was isolated and her influence was more extensive than I realized from previous books. Nicholas was just not tsar material - I kept thinking of Louis XVI who too just wanted a simple life. Then all the sycophants in the background didn’t help much. Rasputin was a disgusting human and he milked every advantage he had but that Alexandra could not lose him for the life her child is perhaps understandable, but it brought with it the conspiracy theories that feasted on a family’s suffering. I did learn a lot of new things in this book that I think helped me see the Romanovs more clearly.
Beevor is a wonderful writer - this is the first book I read by him. He brings history to life in his writing. I couldn’t put the book down. I will definitely be adding this to my history book collection so I can re-read it.
Highly recommend.
As Beevor writes in his Introduction, this is “not a conventional biography” but rather serves to focus on “the no-man’s land between truth and myth, [and] between fact and fiction.” As the book details there is so much misinformation and disinformation, it’s often impossible for the real Rasputin to emerge. Beevor has drawn from Russian archives “previously unpublished reports, interviews, and interrogations.” As you read, indeed, this is less about the man but about others thoughts of the man and how that impacted a diseased and morally corrupt nation.
The family under the influence of Alexandra was isolated and her influence was more extensive than I realized from previous books. Nicholas was just not tsar material - I kept thinking of Louis XVI who too just wanted a simple life. Then all the sycophants in the background didn’t help much. Rasputin was a disgusting human and he milked every advantage he had but that Alexandra could not lose him for the life her child is perhaps understandable, but it brought with it the conspiracy theories that feasted on a family’s suffering. I did learn a lot of new things in this book that I think helped me see the Romanovs more clearly.
Beevor is a wonderful writer - this is the first book I read by him. He brings history to life in his writing. I couldn’t put the book down. I will definitely be adding this to my history book collection so I can re-read it.
Highly recommend.
March 27, 2026
May he rest in pieces
September 5, 2026
Fate Sealed
I have enjoyed most of Antony Beevor’s books. He is an excellent historian who produces work to a high standard. As I read more and more history, I find that someone who writes as well as him must be cherished. His Rasputin and the Downfall of the Romanovs hits the mark once again. The subject of Rasputin always leaves me thinking less about the man himself and kore about the extraordinary tragedy of the Russia that produced him.
Gregory Rasputin has become almost cartoonish in popular culture: the mad monk, the sinister sexual predator, the Svengali who somehow brought down the Romanov dynasty. Beevor does a good job of stripping away some of that mythology. Rasputin was certainly a deeply unpleasant and deeply strange man, but he was also charismatic, intelligent in his own way, and remarkably adept at understanding the weaknesses of the people around him. His relationship with Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and his influence at court were damaging, but it would be far too easy and historically lazy to blame him for the collapse of the monarchy.
The Romanov regime was already in serious trouble. Tsar Nicholas II was simply not the man Russia needed at such a moment. He seems to have genuinely loved his family and believed sincerely in his duty, but his stubbornness, political ineptitude and almost complete inability to understand the forces reshaping his country were disastrous. Alexandra, consumed by fear for the health of the Tsarevich Alexei and increasingly distrustful of almost everyone around her, became isolated and vulnerable to Rasputin’s influence.
What makes this period so tragic is knowing what comes next. The murder of Rasputin by Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, Prince Felix Yusupov and Vladimir Purishkevich in December 1916 feels, in retrospect, like the last grotesque act of the old Russia. Within months the Romanov monarchy was gone. Revolution followed, then civil war, terror, famine and death on a scale that makes the bizarre intrigues of the imperial court seem almost painfully insignificant. All around knew a catastrophe was coming and it feels like the last vestiges of an already dead country.
That is perhaps what I found most compelling about the book. Rasputin was not the cause of Russia’s catastrophe; he was one of its symptoms. He represents a regime that had become so detached from reality that a Siberian peasant mystic could acquire extraordinary influence over the imperial family while soldiers were dying by the hundreds of thousands and ordinary Russians were struggling with shortages and misery. There is a particular sadness in watching the last Romanovs through this lens. Their world was disappearing around them, yet they seemed incapable of imagining a future in which it might no longer exist. And once it did disappear, what replaced it was immeasurably worse.
Beevor tells this story with his usual eye for human character and historical drama. At times I wanted more of the wider political and social context, and the book is inevitably too short to offer a comprehensive account of the collapse of Imperial Russia. The ultimate book o the subject of the Revolution is A People’s Tragedy by Orlando Figes whilst the best book on the man himself is Rasputin by Douglas Smith. But perhaps its brevity of this book is also its strength. A compelling portrait of Rasputin, certainly, but for me, ultimately, a book about the last days of a dying monarchy and the terrible abyss that opened when it finally fell.
I have enjoyed most of Antony Beevor’s books. He is an excellent historian who produces work to a high standard. As I read more and more history, I find that someone who writes as well as him must be cherished. His Rasputin and the Downfall of the Romanovs hits the mark once again. The subject of Rasputin always leaves me thinking less about the man himself and kore about the extraordinary tragedy of the Russia that produced him.
Gregory Rasputin has become almost cartoonish in popular culture: the mad monk, the sinister sexual predator, the Svengali who somehow brought down the Romanov dynasty. Beevor does a good job of stripping away some of that mythology. Rasputin was certainly a deeply unpleasant and deeply strange man, but he was also charismatic, intelligent in his own way, and remarkably adept at understanding the weaknesses of the people around him. His relationship with Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and his influence at court were damaging, but it would be far too easy and historically lazy to blame him for the collapse of the monarchy.
The Romanov regime was already in serious trouble. Tsar Nicholas II was simply not the man Russia needed at such a moment. He seems to have genuinely loved his family and believed sincerely in his duty, but his stubbornness, political ineptitude and almost complete inability to understand the forces reshaping his country were disastrous. Alexandra, consumed by fear for the health of the Tsarevich Alexei and increasingly distrustful of almost everyone around her, became isolated and vulnerable to Rasputin’s influence.
What makes this period so tragic is knowing what comes next. The murder of Rasputin by Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, Prince Felix Yusupov and Vladimir Purishkevich in December 1916 feels, in retrospect, like the last grotesque act of the old Russia. Within months the Romanov monarchy was gone. Revolution followed, then civil war, terror, famine and death on a scale that makes the bizarre intrigues of the imperial court seem almost painfully insignificant. All around knew a catastrophe was coming and it feels like the last vestiges of an already dead country.
That is perhaps what I found most compelling about the book. Rasputin was not the cause of Russia’s catastrophe; he was one of its symptoms. He represents a regime that had become so detached from reality that a Siberian peasant mystic could acquire extraordinary influence over the imperial family while soldiers were dying by the hundreds of thousands and ordinary Russians were struggling with shortages and misery. There is a particular sadness in watching the last Romanovs through this lens. Their world was disappearing around them, yet they seemed incapable of imagining a future in which it might no longer exist. And once it did disappear, what replaced it was immeasurably worse.
Beevor tells this story with his usual eye for human character and historical drama. At times I wanted more of the wider political and social context, and the book is inevitably too short to offer a comprehensive account of the collapse of Imperial Russia. The ultimate book o the subject of the Revolution is A People’s Tragedy by Orlando Figes whilst the best book on the man himself is Rasputin by Douglas Smith. But perhaps its brevity of this book is also its strength. A compelling portrait of Rasputin, certainly, but for me, ultimately, a book about the last days of a dying monarchy and the terrible abyss that opened when it finally fell.
June 15, 2026
The name Rasputin carries with it a certain mystique, which makes it all the more disappointing that it turns out he was just a lecherous drunk who was able to convince one person he had mystic powers…it just so happened that the one person was the tsar’s wife. On the plus side, his murder was such an epically comical and farcical series of events that it redeems the narrative arc of his life.
(I don't mean to suggest murder is funny in general, unless it's me murdering jokes, which I am quite good at. But holy smokes was Rasputin's finale a doozy.)
(I don't mean to suggest murder is funny in general, unless it's me murdering jokes, which I am quite good at. But holy smokes was Rasputin's finale a doozy.)
May 13, 2026
È difficile scrivere una biografia di Rasputin, perché quasi tutto ciò che sappiamo sul celebre mistico siberiano è un groviglio di storia e leggenda.
Beevor ha fatto un buon lavoro, realizzando un'opera piacevole da leggere e supportata da una valida bibliografia.
L'unica pecca rilevante del libro è la sua eccessiva brevità. Alcuni capitoli sono troppo riassuntivi e non permettono di immergersi completamente nella corte imperiale russa.
Inoltre non ho compreso la decisione di fermarsi alla rivoluzione di febbraio, menzionando solo di sfuggita l'assassinio dei Romanov. Ho trovato il finale un po' frettoloso.
Nel complesso risulta comunque un saggio godibile e istruttivo.
Beevor ha fatto un buon lavoro, realizzando un'opera piacevole da leggere e supportata da una valida bibliografia.
L'unica pecca rilevante del libro è la sua eccessiva brevità. Alcuni capitoli sono troppo riassuntivi e non permettono di immergersi completamente nella corte imperiale russa.
Inoltre non ho compreso la decisione di fermarsi alla rivoluzione di febbraio, menzionando solo di sfuggita l'assassinio dei Romanov. Ho trovato il finale un po' frettoloso.
Nel complesso risulta comunque un saggio godibile e istruttivo.
Review of advance copy
Antony Antony Beevor’s Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs is undoubtedly a rewarding work for readers with a strong interest in history, yet for the general audience it may prove rather heavy going.
Beevor introduces a continuous stream of secondary characters, many of whom appear only briefly and whose names are difficult to retain, especially as not all of them are easy to trace within the book’s structure. A more selective approach might have allowed greater space for deeper characterisation of the central figures, while improving the overall readability.
For that reason, I would hesitate to recommend Rasputin as a first choice for readers who lack prior familiarity with Russian history and the complex events of the late imperial period.
Beevor introduces a continuous stream of secondary characters, many of whom appear only briefly and whose names are difficult to retain, especially as not all of them are easy to trace within the book’s structure. A more selective approach might have allowed greater space for deeper characterisation of the central figures, while improving the overall readability.
For that reason, I would hesitate to recommend Rasputin as a first choice for readers who lack prior familiarity with Russian history and the complex events of the late imperial period.
August 18, 2026
The author does a great job of separating fact from fiction in this account of Rasputin and the last tsar family. As a result, there isn't very much on Rasputin before he started to maneuver his way into court. Once there, he spread a lot of lies about his own origins and the rumors about him spread widely.
The last tsar and his German wife are presented as quite sorry figures, and in many ways they were. Nicholas II was wholly unprepared to take on the role of tsar after his popular and strong father met an early death. His German wife was cold and distant. She bore four daughters and when she finally had a son, the heir to the throne, he was hemophiliac. This was a state secret, and the health of her son meant that she was probably more open towards charlatans than she might otherwise have been.
The tsar and tsarina were completely oblivious to the "lay of the land" and how their people actually fared. When any catastrophe did filter through, they did not seem to care. Both of them defended Rasputin at all cost, and in the end, to the detriment of themselves.
The last tsar and his German wife are presented as quite sorry figures, and in many ways they were. Nicholas II was wholly unprepared to take on the role of tsar after his popular and strong father met an early death. His German wife was cold and distant. She bore four daughters and when she finally had a son, the heir to the throne, he was hemophiliac. This was a state secret, and the health of her son meant that she was probably more open towards charlatans than she might otherwise have been.
The tsar and tsarina were completely oblivious to the "lay of the land" and how their people actually fared. When any catastrophe did filter through, they did not seem to care. Both of them defended Rasputin at all cost, and in the end, to the detriment of themselves.
September 6, 2026
3.75 Stars!
"This man was unique. One of a kind, like a character out of a novel, he lived in legend, he died in legend and his memory was cloaked in legend."
Rasputin has in the over 100 years since hes death become a bit of a cartoon character. A lot of wild shit is said about him but how much of it is true?
Im confused as to why he's still remembered all these years later. After reading this book he just seems like a sexual predator who knew how to smooth talk rich people. There was literally nothing special about him.
He's been giving credit for saving the life of the Tsar's son and for leading to the fall of the Romanov dynasty. Neither of those things are true.
"When a social and political order is about to disintegrate, rulers often seek the support of the supernatural."
Russia "falls" to the Bolsheviks not because of Rasputin but because the people "peasants" were suffering while the rich got richer. The Romanovs were a showy people, they loved showing off their wealth, while doing nothing for the people. The royal family is spending vast sums of uniforms, parades and state occasions. While little was set aside for education or infrastructure. Illiteracy was so high that pictures were used on shop signs. They were dealing with overcrowded conditions, tuberculosis, cholera, typhus and venereal disease.
Rasputin didn't lead to the fall of the Romanov family but he was a symptom of it. Obviously we all know what happens to the Tsar and his whole family, they were arrested and put to death including the kids. Years later a grifter would claim to be one of the daughters of the Tsar, Anastasia. She would say that she had survived and in the 90s we would get a Disney cartoon about her.
Overall i enjoyed this book. It was great and I would have liked for the author to dig a little deeper into the Romanov's. Its an easy to read book but i dont think you should pick it up if you don't already know some Russian history.
"This man was unique. One of a kind, like a character out of a novel, he lived in legend, he died in legend and his memory was cloaked in legend."
Rasputin has in the over 100 years since hes death become a bit of a cartoon character. A lot of wild shit is said about him but how much of it is true?
Im confused as to why he's still remembered all these years later. After reading this book he just seems like a sexual predator who knew how to smooth talk rich people. There was literally nothing special about him.
He's been giving credit for saving the life of the Tsar's son and for leading to the fall of the Romanov dynasty. Neither of those things are true.
"When a social and political order is about to disintegrate, rulers often seek the support of the supernatural."
Russia "falls" to the Bolsheviks not because of Rasputin but because the people "peasants" were suffering while the rich got richer. The Romanovs were a showy people, they loved showing off their wealth, while doing nothing for the people. The royal family is spending vast sums of uniforms, parades and state occasions. While little was set aside for education or infrastructure. Illiteracy was so high that pictures were used on shop signs. They were dealing with overcrowded conditions, tuberculosis, cholera, typhus and venereal disease.
Rasputin didn't lead to the fall of the Romanov family but he was a symptom of it. Obviously we all know what happens to the Tsar and his whole family, they were arrested and put to death including the kids. Years later a grifter would claim to be one of the daughters of the Tsar, Anastasia. She would say that she had survived and in the 90s we would get a Disney cartoon about her.
Overall i enjoyed this book. It was great and I would have liked for the author to dig a little deeper into the Romanov's. Its an easy to read book but i dont think you should pick it up if you don't already know some Russian history.
June 12, 2026
Detailed, informative and not once boring or heavy! I had a delight reading this book!
April 19, 2026
Ik ben echt super enthousiast over dit boek. Antony Beevor heeft al eerder prachtig werk afgeleverd, maar Raspoetin is weer echt een meesterwerk. Het is een biografie, maar hij schrijft zelf al dat het een niemandsland is tussen waarheid en mythe en feit en fictie. Vaak bij het schrijven van een biografie is dat het geval, maar in het geval van Raspoetin doen er zoveel verhalen en geruchtende ronde, dat er eigenlijk geen duidelijk overzicht is te maken van de echte waarheid. Foto's en diverse bronnen hebben Beevor in ieder geval in staat gesteld dit overzicht te schrijven.
En die disclaimer is dan wel terecht, maar doet het boek zeker niet af, want wat een verhaal, dat verweven is met het leven van de laatste tsaar van het Russische rijk, maar zeker niet alleen daarover gaat. De rol van Raspoeting, die van echtgenote Alexandra en anderen was behoorlijk intens, maar het mag wel duidelijk zijn dat de titeldrager van dit boek zeker geen lieverdje was. Als hij ergens zijn gram kon halen deed hij dat wel en dat maakt het boek ook wel pittig leesvoer, want wat kan een mens toch naar zijn.
Dit is een boek wat me lang zal bijblijven, wat me zeker meer informatie heeft gegeven over de Romanov's die ik nog verder hoop uit te diepen en ik vind de toevoeging van de foto's en de bronnenlijst erg prettig omdat ik nu weer nieuw leesvoer heb ontdekt.
Dit boek is 5 dikke sterren voor mij. Ik had hoge verwachtingen, maar die zijn ook allemaal waargemaakt.
En die disclaimer is dan wel terecht, maar doet het boek zeker niet af, want wat een verhaal, dat verweven is met het leven van de laatste tsaar van het Russische rijk, maar zeker niet alleen daarover gaat. De rol van Raspoeting, die van echtgenote Alexandra en anderen was behoorlijk intens, maar het mag wel duidelijk zijn dat de titeldrager van dit boek zeker geen lieverdje was. Als hij ergens zijn gram kon halen deed hij dat wel en dat maakt het boek ook wel pittig leesvoer, want wat kan een mens toch naar zijn.
Dit is een boek wat me lang zal bijblijven, wat me zeker meer informatie heeft gegeven over de Romanov's die ik nog verder hoop uit te diepen en ik vind de toevoeging van de foto's en de bronnenlijst erg prettig omdat ik nu weer nieuw leesvoer heb ontdekt.
Dit boek is 5 dikke sterren voor mij. Ik had hoge verwachtingen, maar die zijn ook allemaal waargemaakt.
April 17, 2026
I was giddy and jumping with joy when I received this book, the history geek that I am 😀 I had watched a lot of documentaries about the Russian revolution and Rasputin, but reading a narration by an expert was a different experience altogether.
Grigory Rasputin was arguably the ultimate wild card of history. He wasn’t a politician, a general, or even a nobleman. In fact, he was a barely literate peasant from the Siberian wilderness with zero official power. He wasn’t trying to start a revolution, either - he was actually a die-hard fan of Tsar Nicholas II, and a monarchist.
Yet, despite having no "real" authority, he managed to charm and manipulate his way into the heart of the Russian royal family. This strange, hypnotic influence did more to topple the mighty Russian Empire than any rebel army ever could. This man was unique', observed one writer. 'Like a character out of a novel, he lived in legend, he died in legend, and his memory is cloaked in legend.'
Antony Beevor is a wonderful writer, and writes with great confidence and authority. He made this history book extremely interesting and unputdownable, bringing the past to life. Indeed a rewarding piece of work. This is a must read for history lovers but I would caution others...this can be a rather heavy read.
Rated: 4.5/5
Grigory Rasputin was arguably the ultimate wild card of history. He wasn’t a politician, a general, or even a nobleman. In fact, he was a barely literate peasant from the Siberian wilderness with zero official power. He wasn’t trying to start a revolution, either - he was actually a die-hard fan of Tsar Nicholas II, and a monarchist.
Yet, despite having no "real" authority, he managed to charm and manipulate his way into the heart of the Russian royal family. This strange, hypnotic influence did more to topple the mighty Russian Empire than any rebel army ever could. This man was unique', observed one writer. 'Like a character out of a novel, he lived in legend, he died in legend, and his memory is cloaked in legend.'
Antony Beevor is a wonderful writer, and writes with great confidence and authority. He made this history book extremely interesting and unputdownable, bringing the past to life. Indeed a rewarding piece of work. This is a must read for history lovers but I would caution others...this can be a rather heavy read.
Rated: 4.5/5
May 3, 2026
Manages to capture the shambling, chaotic and disturbing presence of Rasputin, while also showing just how mesmeric he was to some people - particularly, and most damagingly, the Romanovs. Given the vast disparities in Russian society, a revolution was probably inevitable. But timing is everything, and Rasputin's presence and his advice helped ensure the revolution took place then, with massive consequences for us thereafter.
June 30, 2026
Learned a lot about pre Bolshevik Revolution early 1900s Russia.
Good source book.
Good source book.
April 30, 2026
You can tell Beevor wrote this one while he was writing his 2022 account of the Russian Civil War and it’s a nice compliment. But it’s more like his History of the Spanish Civil War - a somewhat dry series of facts, anecdotes, and re-constructed events - than his WWII books which have more analysis and insight. It would have been cool to get the author’s perspective on the role the main characters played - The Empress, The Tsar - and which could have been different if they’d made better choices. Instead we get just a litany of facts, which is not uninteresting but leaves something to be desired.
May 27, 2026
First history book I've read which is both interesting but also reads like a story. While this book doesn't bring anything new or surprising in showing this was a seriously messed up guy, it goes into great detail to show just how deeply embedded he managed to burrow himself in the autocracy.
Despite hatred of Rasputin being endemic from the swathes of Empire to those close to the tsar in the upper echelons of government, the tsar refused to rid himself of this parasite. Saw a lot of parallels with certain figures in today's politics, where despite the majority hating these rogue characters influencing the ruling class, they are backed up until it is too late
Despite hatred of Rasputin being endemic from the swathes of Empire to those close to the tsar in the upper echelons of government, the tsar refused to rid himself of this parasite. Saw a lot of parallels with certain figures in today's politics, where despite the majority hating these rogue characters influencing the ruling class, they are backed up until it is too late
April 18, 2026
I have enjoyed Anthony Beevor’s Second World War histories - especially ‘Stalingrad’ but this wasn’t in the same league.
April 16, 2026
Every historical subject Anthony Beevor takes on he exceeds expectations. His novel on Rasputin and the downfall of the Romanov’s in my opinion is one of his best writings. Rasputin has always been a huge mystery of a figure in the history of Russia. It’s hard to believe a simple peasant could become such a legend in the Romanov court with the ability to influence the Tsar and Tsaritsa decision making on many matters. Beevor’s storytelling is able to bring to life how dependent the Romanov’s were on Rasputin’s seemingly holy ordained ability to keep their son Nicholas who was afflicted with hemophilia alive. It is amazing what a mother will be able to accept and not question for the wellbeing of their children.
I have to admit, Beevor had me laughing at times with the wild behavior of Rasputin and the attempts of those who tried to remove Rasputin from his proximity to the power he held over Russia. Ultimately Rasputin’s fate came to be and so too the Romanov dynasty.
Thank you, to NetGalley, Anthony Beevor and Viking an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC for providing this ARC for review.
I have to admit, Beevor had me laughing at times with the wild behavior of Rasputin and the attempts of those who tried to remove Rasputin from his proximity to the power he held over Russia. Ultimately Rasputin’s fate came to be and so too the Romanov dynasty.
Thank you, to NetGalley, Anthony Beevor and Viking an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC for providing this ARC for review.
Did Not Finish
June 16, 2026Gave up at 40%, not because the book wasn’t good or well-written, but because I got so sick of the tsar and the tsarina, their gullibility and “spiritual quests” on the one hand and their firm belief in their right to autocracy on the other. Their fate was ultimately terrible, for sure, but their downfall was justified and self-inflicted. Beevor’s description of Rasputin made my skin crawl. How ironic that such a creep was given the power to topple empires! But then again, history is full of creepy, nasty men worming their way to power, isn’t it?
May 7, 2026
Reading Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs felt less like reading a conventional biography and more like watching an empire rot from the inside. Antony Beevor does not simply tell the story of Grigori Rasputin; he reconstructs the atmosphere of paranoia, desperation, superstition, and decay that consumed the final years of the Romanov dynasty. What makes the book so compelling is that Beevor never treats Rasputin as a cartoon villain or mystical sorcerer. Instead, he presents him as a deeply contradictory man whose presence exposed all the weaknesses already festering within imperial Russia. By the end of the book, Rasputin almost feels less like a man and more like a symptom of a dying monarchy.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is Beevor’s portrayal of the relationship between Rasputin, Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, and their children. Alexandra emerges as perhaps the most tragic figure in the entire narrative. Beevor makes it painfully clear that her attachment to Rasputin came from terror and maternal desperation more than political calculation. The Romanovs’ only son, Alexei, suffered from hemophilia, and every injury threatened his life. Rasputin’s apparent ability to calm the boy during his bleeding episodes transformed him into something sacred in Alexandra’s eyes. Whether his healing powers were psychological, spiritual, or simply coincidence mattered less than the fact that he seemed to help when doctors could not.
Beevor does an excellent job showing how this emotional dependency became politically catastrophic. Alexandra’s faith in Rasputin evolved into absolute trust. She believed he had been sent by God to protect both her son and the dynasty itself. That belief poisoned the monarchy from within because anyone who criticized Rasputin automatically became an enemy in Alexandra’s eyes. Nicholas II appears weak throughout the book, not cruel or unintelligent, but indecisive and incapable of understanding how badly Rasputin’s presence damaged public confidence in the throne. The tragedy is that Nicholas genuinely loved his family and wanted to protect them, yet his inability to separate private loyalty from public duty accelerated the collapse of his empire.
The sections involving the Romanov children are especially haunting because Beevor emphasizes how insulated and emotionally fragile their world had become. Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei are not treated as distant historical symbols but as children trapped inside a political nightmare they barely understood. Rumors spread through Russian society that Rasputin had seduced Alexandra and even the daughters, allegations that Beevor repeatedly stresses were unfounded but devastating nonetheless. In an autocracy built on mystique and divine authority, scandal could be fatal. The more salacious the rumors became, the weaker the monarchy appeared.
What struck me most while reading the book was Beevor’s argument that perception ultimately mattered more than reality. Rasputin did not personally destroy Russia, but the myths surrounding him destroyed trust in the Romanovs. Even those who never met him became convinced that the empire was being controlled by a drunken peasant mystic and a hysterical empress. Beevor repeatedly returns to the idea that conspiracy theories and gossip can reshape history as powerfully as armies or revolutions. That theme gives the book a disturbingly modern feeling.
The account of Rasputin’s murder is the centerpiece of the book and reads like gothic horror. Beevor strips away some of the mythology while preserving the sheer madness of the event itself. Prince Felix Yusupov and his fellow conspirators believed they were saving Russia by eliminating Rasputin. Their plot was born from panic. By late 1916, many aristocrats and politicians had become convinced that Rasputin’s influence over Alexandra was destroying the government and sabotaging the war effort. Ministers were constantly dismissed and replaced in what became known as “ministerial leapfrog,” leaving the state paralyzed.
The murder sequence unfolds with incredible tension. Rasputin is lured to Yusupov’s palace, poisoned, shot, beaten, and ultimately dumped into the freezing river. Beevor carefully distinguishes between legend and documented fact, but he also understands why the story became mythologized almost instantly. Rasputin’s apparent refusal to die transformed him into something supernatural in the public imagination. The conspirators believed they had removed the source of Russia’s sickness, yet the assassination accomplished almost nothing politically. Instead of stabilizing the monarchy, it revealed just how desperate and fractured the ruling elite had become.
The most devastating part of the book is the sense of inevitability that follows Rasputin’s death. His murder came too late. Beevor argues convincingly that the monarchy had already lost the confidence of the military, the aristocracy, and the public. The rot had spread too far. Rasputin became the lightning rod for every fear and grievance consuming wartime Russia, but removing him could not restore faith in Nicholas and Alexandra.
What follows is tragic in the purest sense because the Romanovs never seem to grasp the danger until it is unavoidable. Nicholas abdicates. The family is placed under house arrest. The daughters sew jewels into their clothing in hopes of preserving something for the future. Alexei remains frail and sick. Through all of it, there is still a strange innocence surrounding them. Beevor portrays them not as monsters but as profoundly unequipped rulers trapped by their own blindness and privilege.
Knowing the family’s fate makes these final chapters almost unbearable. The execution of the Romanovs in 1918 feels like the final echo of Rasputin’s murder. Violence, conspiracy, fear, and fanaticism consume everyone involved. The same atmosphere of hysteria and distrust that elevated Rasputin eventually destroys the monarchy itself. The old imperial Russia dies alongside the family in that cellar in Ekaterinburg, and the Bolshevik future rises from the ruins.
What I admired most about Beevor’s writing is that he never reduces history to inevitability. He constantly reminds the reader that individual choices mattered. Nicholas could have distanced himself from Rasputin. Alexandra could have recognized the damage being done. The aristocracy could have reformed the system before revolution became unavoidable. Instead, everyone clung to illusions until the entire structure collapsed.
In the end, Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs is not just about one infamous mystic. It is about how empires collapse when rulers lose the trust of their people, when rumor becomes more powerful than truth, and when private desperation overtakes public responsibility. Beevor captures both the humanity and the horror of the Romanovs’ final years with remarkable clarity. The result is a fascinating, disturbing, and deeply sad portrait of a family — and a nation — walking blindly toward catastrophe.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is Beevor’s portrayal of the relationship between Rasputin, Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, and their children. Alexandra emerges as perhaps the most tragic figure in the entire narrative. Beevor makes it painfully clear that her attachment to Rasputin came from terror and maternal desperation more than political calculation. The Romanovs’ only son, Alexei, suffered from hemophilia, and every injury threatened his life. Rasputin’s apparent ability to calm the boy during his bleeding episodes transformed him into something sacred in Alexandra’s eyes. Whether his healing powers were psychological, spiritual, or simply coincidence mattered less than the fact that he seemed to help when doctors could not.
Beevor does an excellent job showing how this emotional dependency became politically catastrophic. Alexandra’s faith in Rasputin evolved into absolute trust. She believed he had been sent by God to protect both her son and the dynasty itself. That belief poisoned the monarchy from within because anyone who criticized Rasputin automatically became an enemy in Alexandra’s eyes. Nicholas II appears weak throughout the book, not cruel or unintelligent, but indecisive and incapable of understanding how badly Rasputin’s presence damaged public confidence in the throne. The tragedy is that Nicholas genuinely loved his family and wanted to protect them, yet his inability to separate private loyalty from public duty accelerated the collapse of his empire.
The sections involving the Romanov children are especially haunting because Beevor emphasizes how insulated and emotionally fragile their world had become. Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei are not treated as distant historical symbols but as children trapped inside a political nightmare they barely understood. Rumors spread through Russian society that Rasputin had seduced Alexandra and even the daughters, allegations that Beevor repeatedly stresses were unfounded but devastating nonetheless. In an autocracy built on mystique and divine authority, scandal could be fatal. The more salacious the rumors became, the weaker the monarchy appeared.
What struck me most while reading the book was Beevor’s argument that perception ultimately mattered more than reality. Rasputin did not personally destroy Russia, but the myths surrounding him destroyed trust in the Romanovs. Even those who never met him became convinced that the empire was being controlled by a drunken peasant mystic and a hysterical empress. Beevor repeatedly returns to the idea that conspiracy theories and gossip can reshape history as powerfully as armies or revolutions. That theme gives the book a disturbingly modern feeling.
The account of Rasputin’s murder is the centerpiece of the book and reads like gothic horror. Beevor strips away some of the mythology while preserving the sheer madness of the event itself. Prince Felix Yusupov and his fellow conspirators believed they were saving Russia by eliminating Rasputin. Their plot was born from panic. By late 1916, many aristocrats and politicians had become convinced that Rasputin’s influence over Alexandra was destroying the government and sabotaging the war effort. Ministers were constantly dismissed and replaced in what became known as “ministerial leapfrog,” leaving the state paralyzed.
The murder sequence unfolds with incredible tension. Rasputin is lured to Yusupov’s palace, poisoned, shot, beaten, and ultimately dumped into the freezing river. Beevor carefully distinguishes between legend and documented fact, but he also understands why the story became mythologized almost instantly. Rasputin’s apparent refusal to die transformed him into something supernatural in the public imagination. The conspirators believed they had removed the source of Russia’s sickness, yet the assassination accomplished almost nothing politically. Instead of stabilizing the monarchy, it revealed just how desperate and fractured the ruling elite had become.
The most devastating part of the book is the sense of inevitability that follows Rasputin’s death. His murder came too late. Beevor argues convincingly that the monarchy had already lost the confidence of the military, the aristocracy, and the public. The rot had spread too far. Rasputin became the lightning rod for every fear and grievance consuming wartime Russia, but removing him could not restore faith in Nicholas and Alexandra.
What follows is tragic in the purest sense because the Romanovs never seem to grasp the danger until it is unavoidable. Nicholas abdicates. The family is placed under house arrest. The daughters sew jewels into their clothing in hopes of preserving something for the future. Alexei remains frail and sick. Through all of it, there is still a strange innocence surrounding them. Beevor portrays them not as monsters but as profoundly unequipped rulers trapped by their own blindness and privilege.
Knowing the family’s fate makes these final chapters almost unbearable. The execution of the Romanovs in 1918 feels like the final echo of Rasputin’s murder. Violence, conspiracy, fear, and fanaticism consume everyone involved. The same atmosphere of hysteria and distrust that elevated Rasputin eventually destroys the monarchy itself. The old imperial Russia dies alongside the family in that cellar in Ekaterinburg, and the Bolshevik future rises from the ruins.
What I admired most about Beevor’s writing is that he never reduces history to inevitability. He constantly reminds the reader that individual choices mattered. Nicholas could have distanced himself from Rasputin. Alexandra could have recognized the damage being done. The aristocracy could have reformed the system before revolution became unavoidable. Instead, everyone clung to illusions until the entire structure collapsed.
In the end, Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs is not just about one infamous mystic. It is about how empires collapse when rulers lose the trust of their people, when rumor becomes more powerful than truth, and when private desperation overtakes public responsibility. Beevor captures both the humanity and the horror of the Romanovs’ final years with remarkable clarity. The result is a fascinating, disturbing, and deeply sad portrait of a family — and a nation — walking blindly toward catastrophe.
September 7, 2026
Sangen miellyttävän lukukokemuksen tarjoava Rasputin - Romanovien tuho on nimensä mukaisesti Romanovin dynastian lopun ajoista kertova teos, joka kohdistaa fokuksen koko silloista Venäjää järisyttäneen, myyttisen hahmon, Rasputinin, ympärille.
Monimutkaisten poliittisten tapahtumien ympärillä vilisee useita nimiä, joita on vaikea seurata läpi kirjan. Tarinan kärryillä pysymistä olisi mielestäni avittanut liite, jossa kaikki kirjassa esiintyvät nimet olisi listattu lyhyine henkilökuvauksineen. Vieraskieliselle lukijalle samat nimet, jotka esiintyvät ensin jollakulla etunimenä ja sitten toisilla patronyymeinä, sekoittuvat helposti keskenään. Toisaalta monimutkaisen poliittisen vyyhdin liika yksinkertaistaminenkaan ei historian tarkastelun kannalta ole mielekästä.
Teos onnistuu kuitenkin täyttämään ennakko-odotukset luomalla hyvin rajatun tapahtumakuvauksen, jossa punainen lanka säilyy läpi kirjan. En ehkä kuitenkaan suosittelisi kirjaa ensimmäistä kertaa Romanovien dynastiaan ja helmikuun vallankumoukseen perehtyvälle.
Monimutkaisten poliittisten tapahtumien ympärillä vilisee useita nimiä, joita on vaikea seurata läpi kirjan. Tarinan kärryillä pysymistä olisi mielestäni avittanut liite, jossa kaikki kirjassa esiintyvät nimet olisi listattu lyhyine henkilökuvauksineen. Vieraskieliselle lukijalle samat nimet, jotka esiintyvät ensin jollakulla etunimenä ja sitten toisilla patronyymeinä, sekoittuvat helposti keskenään. Toisaalta monimutkaisen poliittisen vyyhdin liika yksinkertaistaminenkaan ei historian tarkastelun kannalta ole mielekästä.
Teos onnistuu kuitenkin täyttämään ennakko-odotukset luomalla hyvin rajatun tapahtumakuvauksen, jossa punainen lanka säilyy läpi kirjan. En ehkä kuitenkaan suosittelisi kirjaa ensimmäistä kertaa Romanovien dynastiaan ja helmikuun vallankumoukseen perehtyvälle.
July 14, 2026
This is a strange story; a Siberian peasant becomes spiritual advisor to the Tsar and Tsaritsa of All The Russias, Nicholas and Alexandria. It's true that both of them were religious fanatics and very susceptible to magical thinking, having had a "guru" for several years before Rasputin arrived. The Tsaritsa Alexandria was particularly filled with religiosity, having converted from Lutheranism to Russian Orthodox as part of her marriage agreement with Nicholas. This book demonstrates the almost-mystical legends regarding Rasputin as opposed to his much more complicated reality. Ultimately assassinated by Royalist's, Rasputin preceded his patrons in death by only a few years when Nicholas and Alexandria along with their son and daughters were shot by the Bolsheviks.
April 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC - I've read a fair few books on the Russian Revolution, and took some coursework for my undergrad on the subject, and while Rasputin's influence has been touched on, it's never been to as much depth and detail as this book. I liked the switch between Rasputin chapters and wider Russian history, policy, and society as the book progressed, particularly in relation to Nicholas II and Alexandra's delusions, beliefs in divine right and supreme monarchy, and their foibles in failing to relate to the Russian people (peasants, workers, soldiers, and nobility) in both peacetime and in the Russo-Japanese War and World War I. While the book ends with Rasputin's assassination and the immediate aftermath, including the February Revolution and the Tsar's family's initial imprisonment in their palace, it leaves off before the full revolution and their ultimate demise. That said, I particularly enjoyed the insight into the widespread hatred of Rasputin and his effects on Alexandra and Nicholas II, and how this hatred drove the assassination plot as well as increased the dissatisfaction and disillusionment that led to the Russian Revolution. Very solid reading for those interested in the period.
August 20, 2026
compelling but with an unsettling thread of misogyny on the part of the author, who basically paints every woman in imperial russia as vapid, frigid, histrionic, or a combination of the three. great note to strike in the same book that lionizes a serial sexual abuser!
June 15, 2026
Russian history, especially during this time, is fascinating but a lot. Sooooo many similar names.
May 12, 2026
Thoroughly-researched presentation of the contributions made by the Mad Monk of Russia, Grigory Rasputin, on the fall of the 300-year-old Romanov dynasty and the rise of communism in Russia.
May 12, 2026
Not knowing much about this part of history, it is a very interesting read. I particularly appreciated that Beevor often mentioned different recorded accounts and why one was a more plausible truth over others.
With any such history book, the amount of people mentioned in the book is immense and sometimes confusing. However, overall it was very well put together.
With any such history book, the amount of people mentioned in the book is immense and sometimes confusing. However, overall it was very well put together.
July 22, 2026
In the grand arc of history, it is not uncommon for Royalty, even entire Dynasties, to be killed by rebellion or revolution. Having read many such tales, I often tend to view the dynasty, or the Ruler, either with sympathy or with contempt. King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette often come to mind when contemplating such affairs. Yet, while daft, both Louis and Marie were "likable". Beevor's history of Rasputin and his hand in the fall of the Romanovs paints no such "likability" of the Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Far from it.
Often, especially in our leftist-dominated academia, we are taught that the 1917 Revolution was inevitable due to the proletariat rising up to join the Communists in overthrowing the government. Yet, Beevor's superbly researched history shows that, unlike previous rebellions, this time not a single gun or sword was raised in the defense of this Dynasty. Why? All roads lead to a combination of a weak Tsar, a religiously fanatical convert with severe autocratic tendencies in the Tsarina, and a manipulative, corrupt, sex-pest "mystic" in the form of Rasputin that formed a triangle of immense stupidity, cupidity, and corruption that enraged the true pillars of the Romanovs- the Army and the Nobles.
Rasputin certainly did have a magnetic personality, much as many modern day religious con men of all faiths, tend to have. His undue influence on the weak-minded, but rather vicious, Tsarina and her meddling with Nicholas II would cause a tidal wave of hate and recrimination that would lead to their destruction.
Beevor's history shows the ridiculous decisions and deep unpopularity that was caused by the Tsar and Tsarina's trust in Rasputin and the truly moronic action of replacing senior ministers and generals due to Rasputin's corrupt, and sometimes perverted, grand designs. It will make for some truly eye opening reading.
Beevor also dispels some of the pop-culture myths about the Tsarina having a sexual affair with Rasputin. That did not happen, though there were many women who did. Also Beevor dispels the myhts about Rasputin being impossible to kill, with superb arguments as to why the cyanide in the cakes failed to work, as well as the entire Rasputin surviving all manner of attempts to kill him.
Finally, Beevor shows the effects of Rasputin's influence on the loyalty of the Army (who despised him), the Nobles (who despised him), and how his bad decesions led to the disasters that presaged the revolution and why when it happened, the Army and Nobles did not raise a sword or gun to save this stupid, weak, and rather dislikable Tsar and Tsarina. Thus was the doom of the Romanovs written.
Often, especially in our leftist-dominated academia, we are taught that the 1917 Revolution was inevitable due to the proletariat rising up to join the Communists in overthrowing the government. Yet, Beevor's superbly researched history shows that, unlike previous rebellions, this time not a single gun or sword was raised in the defense of this Dynasty. Why? All roads lead to a combination of a weak Tsar, a religiously fanatical convert with severe autocratic tendencies in the Tsarina, and a manipulative, corrupt, sex-pest "mystic" in the form of Rasputin that formed a triangle of immense stupidity, cupidity, and corruption that enraged the true pillars of the Romanovs- the Army and the Nobles.
Rasputin certainly did have a magnetic personality, much as many modern day religious con men of all faiths, tend to have. His undue influence on the weak-minded, but rather vicious, Tsarina and her meddling with Nicholas II would cause a tidal wave of hate and recrimination that would lead to their destruction.
Beevor's history shows the ridiculous decisions and deep unpopularity that was caused by the Tsar and Tsarina's trust in Rasputin and the truly moronic action of replacing senior ministers and generals due to Rasputin's corrupt, and sometimes perverted, grand designs. It will make for some truly eye opening reading.
Beevor also dispels some of the pop-culture myths about the Tsarina having a sexual affair with Rasputin. That did not happen, though there were many women who did. Also Beevor dispels the myhts about Rasputin being impossible to kill, with superb arguments as to why the cyanide in the cakes failed to work, as well as the entire Rasputin surviving all manner of attempts to kill him.
Finally, Beevor shows the effects of Rasputin's influence on the loyalty of the Army (who despised him), the Nobles (who despised him), and how his bad decesions led to the disasters that presaged the revolution and why when it happened, the Army and Nobles did not raise a sword or gun to save this stupid, weak, and rather dislikable Tsar and Tsarina. Thus was the doom of the Romanovs written.
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