Raspoetin en de ondergang van de Romanovs

by Antony Beevor, Ruud van de Plassche (Translator)

In Raspoetin en de ondergang van de Romanovs vertelt Antony Beevor het schokkende levensverhaal van de meest beruchte raadsman van het tsaristische hof. Op basis van nieuw ontdekt bronnenmateriaal toont hij dat Raspoetin niet enkel een mystiek icoon was maar ook een gewetenloze manipulator. Achter deze heilige ziener ging een man schuil die zijn macht misbruikte, vrouwen onder druk zette en het hof meesleurde in een draaikolk van corruptie en schandalen.
Beevor laat zien hoe roddel, intrige en moreel verval de reputatie van Raspoetin én die van de tsaar verwoestten – en hoe juist dat de weg vrijmaakte voor de revolutie van 1917. Met de scherpte en vertelkunst waarmee hij wereldwijd bestsellerauteur werd, vertelt Beevor een meeslepend verhaal over macht, mythe en ondergang.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Russia, Audiobook, Russian History, Politics

428 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 14, 2026

About the author

Sir 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.

Reviews

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

May he rest in pieces

[Robert Lambregts · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[F.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Adii (adiiturnsapage) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Matti Sjöstedt · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Phil Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Anthony Beevor’s Second World War histories - especially ‘Stalingrad’ but this wasn’t in the same league.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Margo · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Desirae · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthony Beevor’s Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs doesn't just retell the legend of Rasputin. Instead, it reframes him within the larger unraveling of imperial Russia. What emerges isn’t the exaggerated “mad monk” of popular imagination, but a far more complicated figure: charismatic, erratic, opportunistic, and ultimately shaped by the instability around him as much as he shaped it.

What makes this book stand out is its perspective. Beevor doesn’t treat Rasputin as the singular cause of the Romanovs’ collapse. Instead, he situates him within a court already riddled with dysfunction, paranoia, and poor leadership. Rasputin’s influence feels less like an anomaly and more like an inevitability: someone was bound to fill that vacuum.

The narrative carries a sense of inevitability throughout, as if the empire is quietly cracking long before it finally breaks. Rasputin’s presence intensifies the drama, but it also highlights just how fragile the system had become. The result is less a character study and more an autopsy of a dying regime, with Rasputin as both participant and symbol of its decline.

In the end, the book leaves you with a clear impression: Rasputin didn’t bring down the Romanovs on his own. The man simply revealed how little was holding them up in the first place.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Adii (adiiturnsapage) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Ravi Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, succinct review of the highly controversial Rasputin. Like his other books Antony Beevor manages to distill events into neat sequences and the best part is that he reduces the myths, especially those surrounding Rasputin's death into practical and explainable facts. Good book for those who want history without the hysteria though I suspect understanding the atmosphere of that time is not easy and you often question why people behaved the way they did. Books like this act like a clear window, they show what happened and partially explain facts but don't fully capture the mood or the emotions.

[Revy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the man who shook Tsarist Russia to its core, exposing the weaknesses of the aristocracy and, arguably, beginning its downfall. Told with great enthusiasm - history like this always kind of feels like watching a bad sitcom and I kind of live for that.

Overall an excellent history book.

[Robert Kingston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird guy!

[Doug Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Richard Ströberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Som i en rysk 1800-talsroman förvirras jag av att egennamn, släktnamn, titlar och smeknamn blandas huller om buller men annars är det en intressant bok som ger Rasputin åtminstone lite återupprättelse.

[Shannon Cilento · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Another hit from prolific historian Antony Beevor! In Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs, historian Antony Beevor once again proves why he is one of the most compelling narrative historians writing today. Rather than leaning into the mythology that has long surrounded Grigori Rasputin, Beevor grounds the story in political instability, family dysfunction and the very human vulnerabilities that allowed Rasputin to gain such extraordinary influence over the Romanov family.

One of the most striking themes in this book is how the lack of medical knowledge at the time left even the most powerful people in the world searching for answers in mysticism and spiritualism. Reading about the desperation surrounding the illness of Tsarevich Alexei, I was reminded of the storyline involving King George in Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte arc (a very millennial take, I know)…the sense that when science fails, people will turn to anyone who promises hope. Alexandra’s guilt over passing hemophilia to her son made her especially vulnerable, and Beevor shows how figures like Rasputin, and earlier advisers such as Philippe, were able to step into that void.

Beevor also does an excellent job providing the broader historical context of the early 1900s, showing that the Romanov dynasty was already under immense strain from political unrest, war, and internal dysfunction long before Rasputin entered the picture. In many ways, the family did not become unstable because of Rasputin. Rather, their instability made them susceptible to him. His presence exposed and deepened cracks that were already there.

What I appreciated most is that Beevor avoids portraying Rasputin as a supernatural figure or prophetic legend. Instead, he presents him as a man who became “cloaked in legend,” a phrase that feels especially relevant in modern times. It brought to mind the way contemporary figures (cough cough Epstein) can become mythologized in the public imagination, when in reality they are simply human beings making conscious choices, sometimes harmful ones, that affect others in very real ways.

This book is a fascinating and unsettling, look at the final years of the Romanovs, and another excellent work from one of the most reliable historians writing today. Highly recommended for readers interested in Russian history, royal biography, and the psychology of power.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the advance copy of this book in exchange for honest review.

[Henk Hofman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raspoetin en de ondergang van de Romanovs
Anthony Beevor

Op de aansprekende cover van dit boek staan drie personen afgebeeld. De monnik Raspoetin in het midden, met aan weerszijden tsaar Nicolaas II en diens vrouw tsarina Alexandra Fjodorovna. Daarmee wordt treffend aangegeven dat het in dit boek om drie hoofdrolspelers gaat. Het verhaal ontvouwt zich ook aan de hand van deze drie perspectieven. Een echte biografie is het dus niet (wat natuurlijk geen enkel bezwaar is).
Het is een merkwaardig drietal op deze foto. Wie waren ze en wat was hun relatie? Waarom staat die vreemde monnik tussen twee monarchen in? Hij is de meest intrigerende van dit drietal.
Raspoetin (1869-1916) heeft altijd tot de verbeelding van mensen gesproken.
Als je in de zoekbalk van je computer zijn naam intikt, merk je dat gelijk aan de resultaten. Raspoetin wordt ‘een bezeten monnik’ genoemd. In de hit daaronder heet hij ‘een gestoorde monnik, een alcoholist en een aseksuele deviant’. Die ‘aseksuele’ oriëntatie wordt weersproken door de volgende hit, waarin gewaagd wordt van duizenden minnaressen en partners die Raspoetin zou hebben gehad. Duidelijk is in ieder geval dat de monnik nog steeds bevreemding oproept. Op foto’s in het boek is het contrast tussen de monnik met het bleke gezicht, lange haar en morsige baard, omringd door Russische aristocraten, de mannen gekleed in indrukwekkende uniformen en de vrouwen in schitterende japonnen, bijzonder groot.
Tsaar Nicolaas II (1868-1918) en zijn vrouw tsarina Alexandra Fjodorovna (1872-1918) waren door afkomst en huwelijk op de troon terechtgekomen. Zelden zijn twee mensen zo ongeschikt geweest voor hun rol als monarch dan deze twee.
Beevor vertelt met verve hoe de onzekere, weifelende tsaar en zijn labiele, emotionele vrouw helemaal in de ban van Raspoetin terecht kwamen. Dat had er vooral mee te maken dat de kroonprins aan hemofilie leed, als gevolg daarvan een enkele keer op de rand van de dood zweefde, maar door de wonderlijke krachten van Raspoetin toch nog genas.
Vanaf dat moment genoot Raspoetin de onvoorwaardelijke toewijding en het vertrouwen van de Romanovs. De keizerin had een kammetje van Raspoetin in bezit gekregen. Ze gaf het aan haar man met de opmerking: “Vergeet niet je haar te kammen voordat je moeilijke gesprekken voert en belangrijke beslissingen moet nemen. Dat kammetje zal je zeker helpen”.
De tsarina gaat zich steeds meer met die belangrijke beslissingen bemoeien en geeft op aangeven van Raspoetin door aan haar man welk beleid hij moet voeren en wie hij als minister moet aanstellen.
Het verhaal neemt daarmee de proporties aan van een drama. Het is een tragedie voor alle betrokkenen en het hele land. Tegelijk is het een klucht en een ridicuul verhaal. De Russische aristocratie was in de ban van mystiek geraakt. De Eerste Wereldoorlog was uitgebroken en eiste enorme aantallen slachtoffers, maar in Moskou bekommerde men zich daar niet om en dompelden mensen zich onder in “een orgie van dansen, sport, diners en drank.”
Raspoetin had intussen ook machtige vijanden. Mannen die met afschuw vervuld waren over de invloed die Raspoetin op het hof had, de corruptie in regeringskringen, en de nederlagen van het Russische leger aan het front.
Het dramatisch hoogtepunt van dit boek is dan ook zonder meer de moord op Raspoetin. Toen bekend werd dat de monnik onschadelijk was gemaakt, leidde dit tot uitbarstingen van vreugde onder het volk en werd er in restaurants getoost op de moordenaars.
Raspoetin werd in december 1916 vermoord. Een paar maanden later brak de Revolutie uit. De monarchie werd afgeschaft en nog weer een jaar later werd de tsaar met zijn gezin vermoord door de communisten. Precies zoals Raspoetin dit alles had ‘voorzegd’.
Volgens de auteur maakt zijn boek duidelijk dat geschiedenis niet altijd door ‘grote mannen’ wordt bepaald. Dat is zo en Raspoetin is er een duidelijk voorbeeld van. Meer dan wie ook heeft de ‘bezeten monnik’ bijgedragen aan de ondergang van een dynastie die 300 jaar over Rusland had geheerst. Overigens zonder dat dit zijn opzet is geweest.
Ook maakt het boek duidelijk dat geruchten, complottheorieën en verdachtmakingen een enorme impact hadden op het politieke en militaire vlak. Feit en fictie liepen door elkaar heen en Beevor heeft er een kluif aan om die twee van elkaar te onderscheiden. Hetzelfde probleem waar onze generatie mee te maken heeft.
Met dit boek heeft Beevor een meeslepend thema te pakken en hij vertelt zijn verhaal met passie.
Een psychologisch portret van Raspoetin ontbreekt. Als historicus zal Beevor dit niet tot zijn taak hebben gerekend. Hij levert wel de bouwstenen om al lezend inzicht te krijgen in het karakter van deze merkwaardige man.
Een verklarende woordenlijst zou nuttig zijn geweest. Een enkele maal had iets meer uitgelegd kunnen worden. Als voorbeeld noem ik bladzijde 13 waar de naam van Nikolaj Sokolov wordt genoemd. Hij moest in 1919 een onderzoek instellen naar de moord op de Romanovs. Dit wordt begrijpelijk als je weet dat de moordenaars de communisten waren (de Roden onder leiding van Lenin)) en dat hun tegenstanders (de Witten onder leiding van monarchist admiraal Koltsjak) de opdracht tot dit onderzoek gaven.
Deze opmerkingen nemen natuurlijk niet weg dat lezers zullen genieten van dit boek. Dit is geen droge historie, maar een boeiend gepresenteerd verhaal dat bol staat van spanning en dramatiek. Je kunt je alleen maar verbazen over de manier waarop dynastie en samenleving hun eigen graf hebben gegraven. Raspoetin was niet het echte probleem. Dat waren de tsaar en zijn vrouw die hem verafgoodden en hem de ruimte gaven om macht uit te oefenen.
Het boek is geïllustreerd, voorzien van een notenapparaat en een literatuurlijst. Het zal zeker een gretig lezerspubliek trekken en dat is helemaal verdiend.

Anthony Beevor (1946), is een militair historicus die meerdere boeken schreef over de Tweede Wereldoorlog, de Russische Revolutie en de Spaanse Burgeroorlog (1936). Hij ontving veel prijzen en onderscheidingen. In 2017 werd hij in de Britse adelstand opgenomen. Dit boek is vaardig vertaald door Ruud van de Plasche.

ISBN 8789026372032 | Paperback | Omvang 382 blz. | Uitgeverij AmboAnthos | 12 maart 2026
© Henk Hofman, 8 april 2026

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for an advance copy of this history that looks at the mad mystic moujhik known as Rasputin, a man known as a villain in fiction, and as much worse in Russian history, given powers far beyond that of most mortals, with a gift for making friends and influencing those in power, to detriment of the Tsar, his family, and even history.

I am not sure where I first heard about Rasputin. I know it was in the fictional sense. Maybe a Shadow pulp story. I think he was in Doc Savage. I know he was in the Hellboy Comics, but that was much later. In fact I think he was the villain in many a story I read, in movies I watched, even an animated musical. A man of magic and mystery, a man who was difficult to kill, with the power of mesmerism and myriad other powers. I remember when I first saw his name in a history book, I was like, what the heck. This guy was real? However even history seemed to fall under his power. Rasputin strode through many books like a super villain, living though assassination attempts, laughing off poison, bullets, beatings even the cold. With a glance he brought women under his sway, strong leaders gave him obedience. Nations lived and died by his whims. Much of this could be true. How did a peasant rise so high in a place that cared about social status as much as Tsarist Russia. What was his power, what was his magic? Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs by Antony Beevor is a serious look at a subject that is ripe for hyperbole, one that looks at the times, the players, and tries to get to the truth about Rasputin, a myth as much as a man.

The book begins with a dream that the Empress Dowager, the mother of the last Tsar Nicholas ii, had while pregnant. She dreamed that a peasant would be responsible for the death of her son. With this Beevor looks at the world of Russia, a nation close to revolution at many given points, with rights being given and taken away as leaders came and went. Nicholas' father was not a fan of his son, who he thought was slight, and not willing to fight for what was good for the country. Also Nicholas entered the job without my training in being a ruler, but with a dream of taking back power lost to the Tsar, and making Russia great again. The Tsarina also did not fit in, not truly understanding the ways that power and social circles worked. This and not delivering a son after three pregnancies made her a distant fretful person. Which only worsened upon the birth of her son, who had hemophilia. The only thing that seemed to help was a peasant mystic, an uncouth man with a love for women, sin, and a gift to be right about things, either by luck or by dark arts. Rasputin was quick to worm his way into the halls of power, but made many, many enemies along the way. Mad powers were ascribed to him, and due to his power and influence with the Tsar and his family seemed to many to be true. So much so that many attempts to hinder him were stopped by the Tsar himself. Until a group of nobles decided enough, was enough.

Beevor is a very good writer, able to describe moments in a you are there kind of sense, with a full explanation of the broader picture. Beevor never lectures, but shares the story, almost in a oh look at this kind of way. The narrative ever slows down, and even with the many characters and huge breadth of Russia to write about, never loses its way. Beevor cuts away a lot of the mythology, the assassination attempts, the final death of Rasputin, and yet is quick to say about a few things, I really don't know. How did Rasputin cure the Tsar's son from a distance. how did he know certain things would happen. Luck possibly, controlling the narrative, maybe. Or something more.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, mainly because Beevor writes about everything so well, and so clearly, I learn much while enjoying what I am reading. The book is enthralling and quick, with a narrative pace that really keeps things moving. I always come away from Beevor books in awe for how he makes history so interesting, and important. I eagerly await what he has planned next.

[Elma Voogdt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raspoetin, ook daar zijn boeken bij overvloed van. Maar ook hier raakt men niet uitgeschreven over, dat blijkt wel met het nieuwe boek: “Raspoetin en de ondergang van de Romanovs”.

Het boek begint met een droom die de keizerin-weduwe, de moeder van de laatste tsaar Nicolaas II, had tijdens haar zwangerschap. Meer vertel ik daar niet over; dat moet de lezer zelf ontdekken, maar niet alle dromen zijn bedrog, laat ik het daar maar bij houden. Aan de hand hiervan werpt auteur Antony Beevor een blik op de wereld van Rusland. Nicolaas II was geen doortastende tsaar, evenmin als zijn vrouw. Alexandra Fjodorovna stond onder grote druk, want na drie zwangerschappen was er nog steeds geen mannelijke troonopvolger. Het maakte haar tot een afstandelijke en bezorgde vrouw. Het werd er niet beter op na de geboorte van de zoon Aleksej, die aan hemofilie leed. (Hemofilie is een erfelijke aandoening. Door een afwijking in een gen zijn er problemen met de bloedstolling.)

In hun wanhoop zochten Nicolaas II en Alexandra hun toevlucht tot een mystieke boer, een onbehouwen man met een voorliefde voor vrouwen, die in zonde leefde en zogenaamd mensen kon genezen. We hebben het hier over Raspoetin. Deze Raspoetin wist zich snel een weg te banen naar de hoogste kringen zo ook bij de tsaar en tsarin van Rusland. Raspoetin zou uitzonderlijke krachten zijn toegeschreven, en door zijn macht en invloed op de tsaar en zijn familie leken die voor velen ook waar te zijn. Nicolaas en zijn vrouw ( voornamelijk zijn vrouw) geloofden heilig in hem en wie tegen hem was of een verkeerd woord over hem zei, werd meteen door de tsarina of de tsaar zelf teruggefloten. Raspoetin maakte niet alleen vrienden, maar ook veel vijanden….. Met alle gevolgen van dien.

Op basis van nieuw ontdekt bronnenmateriaal vertelt Antony Beevor het verhaal van Raspoetin. Beevor beschrijft alles zo goed en helder, wat het lezen van het boek gemakkelijker maakt. Het boek is meeslepend en vlot geschreven. Het weet de aandacht van de lezer goed vast te houden. Het boek telt 384 pagina’s en de hoofdstukken zijn niet al te lang.

Samengevat: de auteur plaatst Raspoetin in de historische context van zijn tijd en beschrijft de talloze redenen waarom hij zo belangrijk was voor de tsaar en tsarina, en hoe hij bijdroeg aan de val van de Romanovs. Het boek is dan ook een aanrader voor iedereen met interesse in geschiedenis.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

First line: “This man was unique,’ a famous Russian writer observed of Rasputin.

Summary: A barely literate peasant from Siberia rose to become a spiritual and unofficial government advisor to the Tsar and Tsaritsa of Russia. Using his piercing eyes and calming voice he is able to make people around him believe that he has mystical powers from God. While many in the aristocracy flocked to him, he also drew harsh criticisms from others in power. In this new biography we are shown the man who contributed to the downfall of the Romanov dynasty and how his actions undermined centuries of empire.

My Thoughts: My first introduction to the Romanovs was the animated movie Anastasia. I LOVE this movie and would love to see the stage version someday. In high school, I did a report on the woman Anna Anderson and her claim she was the Grand Duchess Anastasia. This family has fascinated me for years and I was very excited to take a different look at the man who helped drag them all down.

The title tells the reader what to expect. Unfortunately, I went in looking for a biography and I got chapters filled with Russian politics at the beginning of the twentieth century. While these are important to show how the Rasputin and the royal family brought about their doom, it seemed to drag on and on. There was so much political intrigue during this time. Corruption was rife throughout the monarchy. However, much of this was normal to the Russian government but the inclusion of a peasant consulting the Tsar on issues led to deep divides.

I really enjoyed the parts where the author gives us actual information about Rasputin. We are shown how his private life and the rumors surrounding it caused division in the royal family. The Empress refused to believe anything bad about him even though there were plenty of witnesses. The Dowager Empress was afraid that this peasant would be the death of her son. Rasputin’s daughter was interrogated after the Revolution, giving a more personal look at the man who became a mysterious legend since his death. These are the parts I came for and really enjoyed reading. I wanted more but I did come away from this book with a bit more knowledge of the last years of the Romanov dynasty.

If you want more personal details, this may not be the book for you. However, if you want to see the political machinations behind the fall of the Russian Empire then this is a good place to start.

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read Rasputin by Antony Beevor, I couldn't help but laugh at times. It wasn't a funny laugh, but more like the laugh you let out when you witness something that leaves you incredulous. Beevor is telling the story of Rasputin, but he is also showing just how completely dysfunctional the Russian monarchy was at the time. Did Rasputin help bring down the czar and his family? Absolutely. Would it have fallen without his help? I'd vote probably.

Beevor is one of my go-to authors for anything in Russian history. His Stalingrad book could not have been better. This narrative is different but no less well-done. I have read about Rasputin before, but Beevor provides the most comprehensive picture of the madman. Yes, he was seemingly magical, threatening, and unkempt. Beevor shows all of those sides but doesn't forget to add the last aspect. He was also fairly ridiculous. He was a drunken name dropper and there were many who immediately saw through him. His escapades would be worthy of laughter except of course for the people hurt along the way.

Millions of people would end up killed, maimed, or lose loved ones because the royal family thought listening to a much-maligned and barely literate stranger from Siberia was a great idea. I really appreciate Beevor's tone in this story. He is still just as scholarly as his other books, but he lets the reader know many of these things are ridiculous on their face. The royal couple were hopelessly lost if not needlessly antagonistic. The author got an audible laugh when he mentioned Rasputin and Empress Alexandra teamed up to choose cabinet ministers, but unfortunately they were horrible judges of character.

Beevor also takes on the legends head-on. He clearly delineates what is made up, what actually happened, and what we can never truly know. Rasputin should be no one's hero. He was a villain who could convince people of things, but he would just as easily commit a sexual assault and try to ruin lives. However, it doesn't mean he did all the things ascribed to his name. In the end, Beevor did exactly what I hoped. I learned the true story while being entertained along the way.

(This book was provided as an advance reader copy by NetGalley and Viking Books.)

[Matias Myllyrinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beevor does what good historians do and too few popular ones manage: he separates what actually happened from what was merely whispered, while still letting you hear the whispers. The orgies with the Empress, the bedroom hold over the daughters, the German-spy theories — he lays out the rumours clearly enough that you understand why a country lost its mind, then methodically shows which were inventions, which were exaggerations of something real, and which were the work of Rasputin’s own boasting. His argument, in the end, is that the myth mattered more than the man. Fake news, a century early, with a body count.


The harder part of the book is not Rasputin. It is the Romanovs. Page after page, chapter after chapter of superstition, snobbery, and serene incompetence. Nicholas was out of his depth on day one and never climbed out. Alexandra’s grip on reality was tenuous well before Rasputin arrived to make it worse. They surrounded themselves with mystics, ignored ministers who told them anything inconvenient, and treated the war and their own people with the same vague disdain. Superstitious, superficial, arrogant, and genuinely dim — a combination that historically does not end with the family keeping its heads, and didn’t here either. They shot themselves, their dynasty, and their country in the foot, repeatedly, and looked surprised each time.


What is striking, reading it now, is that there is almost no one in the entire cast you would want to sit next to at dinner, let alone follow. The court is venal, the would-be reformers are weak, the assassins are buffoons, the revolutionaries waiting in the wings are worse. Beevor doesn’t editorialise, which makes the effect stronger. You close the book understanding exactly how an empire of that size collapsed without a sword raised in its defence — because by 1917 there was nobody left worth defending.

A clear-eyed, well-sourced, often grimly funny book. Recommended, with the caveat that you will not emerge admiring anyone.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few books about the Russian Revolution, the Romanovs and Rasputin. This is an extremely interesting account, suitable for both those who know a fair amount about these events and also those who are new to this history. And what a history story it is. As Beevor says, it is the tale of how a barely literate Siberian peasant contributed to the collapse of the greatest autocracy in the world.

It is the tale of the final Tsar and his wife, who was uncomfortable and unsuited in her role as Tsarina. Alexandra Feodorovna would have been happier as a middle-class housewife, even though she seemed to embrace autocracy with fervour. She thought she knew best, hectored her husband, refused to socialise and hid her shyness beneath a haughty exterior and hypochondria. When her much-adored and wanted son, and heir to the throne, turned out to have haemophilia, she became easy prey to Rasputin. Whether this self-styled holy man aided her son's health, or it was through suggestion or mere chance, is unclear. Regardless, she believed in his ability to save her son and relied on him, unwisely listening to his attempts to have power by meddling in politics and causing resentment and anger.

Rasputin careered through society, with a host of aristocratic women willing to adore and worship him. With an ear to the throne, welcomed in palaces, his wealth, power and influence beyond belief, it was only the Tsar and Tsarina who failed to understand how resentment was growing. Although many attempted to warn them, Rasputin's apparent ability to heal the Tsarevich Alexei. Well, at least until the least discrete planned assassination imaginable. So many longed for Rasputin's death, but his murder seemed to ignite revolution. Overall, this is a fascinating read and Beevor is both academically vigorous and yet an excellent storyteller.

[Ryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having followed this story since I was very young and more recently reading Robert Massie’s fantastic book, Nicholas and Alexandra, I felt content in the knowledge I had on this subject and was done with the material. That was until Antony Beevor made a go at it, I knew I had to return to the Romanov family one last time and it did not disappoint!

Beevor widens the story out to the lesser known people circling Rasputin and the Romanovs. You see how popular mysticism actually was amongst the upper classes in Russian society. You meet the man who came before Rasputin, Monsieur Philippe. Also seen as a Spiritual Advisor, a clear pattern is revealed that shows just how emotionally susceptible the Empress was and how comfortable these peasant class holy men were to pushing their political advice and opinions onto the Tsar.

You gain a clearer understanding of just how protective Alexandra was of Rasputin when you see the numbers of replacements made on Rasputins behalf. Forty three Governor changes in the first nine months of 1916. Four Prime Ministers, 3 Foreign Ministers, 5 Ministers of the Interior, and the list goes on, all in a fifteen month window.

Something I really enjoyed was the backstory to the assassins and how they played in to the aristocracy. Before they lured Rasputin to his demise there was also Khionya Guseva, a woman who almost succeeded in killing Rasputin first.

A quote that stuck with me; “Yet it was the demoralization of the ruling class, not the fervor of revolutionary dogma, which accelerated the collapse of the 300 year old Tsarist regime.”

Excellent book, highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a review!

[Ellen bransford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sir Antony Beevor is well known for his trove of research and books on World War Two, the Spanish Civil War, and the Russian Revolution and Civil War. Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs is another great book for history buffs.

The story of Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra and the demise of the Romanov dynasty may be well known but Beevor takes the reader deep into the social and religious beliefs of the day and helps us understand what allowed Rasputin to have an influence beyond his education and social standing.

Beevor enlightens the reader on the history of Russia, the love match between Nicholas and Alexandra and the horror they experience when they discover their son and heir was afflicted with hemophilia.

As a German born woman who was “now more Russian than most Russians” Alexandra turned to her Russian Orthodox religion and one of the many mystics believed to have power to heal. That Rasputin was a charlatan is well documented. The depth and breadth of that influence is well explained here.

Beevor has a vast array of resources though he did quote a source that “is said to have read.” I found that perplexing among all the diaries, interviews and other primary sources used. But the book is well researched.

Be ready for many characters, not always necessary, and the typical Russian over-use of names and patronymics. It can be overwhelming.

If you enjoy learning about the last days of the Romanovs, Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs will add to your knowledge base.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy. All opinions are my own.

[Richard Jaffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin | Viking for this advance ARC in return for an honest review.

Having been extremely interested in the period involving the downfall of the Romanov Empire, and the rise of the Bolsheviks, I was very excited to receive this title. Given Rasputin's mythic existence I was hopeful that Antony Beevor would provide insight into the cult like figure and how a simple cleric could become intrenched in the Romanov's inner circle and per many actually run the country while Tsar Nicolas was commanding the Russian Troops in WWI. Unfortunately, there was little more provided than was already known; i.e he allegedly "cured" Alexei Nikolaevich, the last Russian tsesarevich, during 2 bouts of extreme hemophilia, the second while 100's of miles away.

Rather than delve into the method behind the madness, Beevor does recount, at great length, Rasputin's Svengali-like hold on many of the high society women in Moscow and Petrograd, in addition to his powers over Alexandra. Given the descriptions of Rasputin's poor attire, illiteracy and incomprehensible mutterings not to mention smelling like a goat, I am still at a loss as to how he charmed so many in the Tsarina's inner circle.

Although fascinating reading, I am still searching for answers that Beevor's Rasputin does not provide.

There may be better books out there to find the answers, so this may not be the best place to start, if not familiar with this time in Russian history.

#Rasputin #NetGalley

[Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader 2.0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antony Beevor is a remarkable historian and writer. His storytelling is rich and immediate, and his grasp of history so complete that the pages fly by before your completely engaged eyes.

Beevor has written extensively about Russia, and Rasputin: Downfall of the Romanovs is an excellent addition. The magnetic Siberian appeared on the scene in St. Petersburg just when the Tsar and Tsaritsa needed him most. After four daughters they finally had an heir, and he had hemophilia. They had already embraced other healers, but none of them had the charisma, the empathy of Rasputin. His growing influence and rumors of his sexual conquests (including, allegedly, Alexandra and her daughters) lead to his murder by members of Nicholas' circle who hoped this would save the monarchy. It didn't. Social unrest and military disasters during World War I forced Nicholas to abdicate less than three months later.

Beevor clearly describes the disaster of Nicholas' reign. He was temperamentally unsuited to the job, naturally indecisive but unwilling to listen to others. He isolated himself and his family, perhaps because as the son and grandson of rulers who had been blown up he worried about safety. Perhaps the Romanov dynasty was unsalvageable by the time Nicholas came to the throne in 1894, but he was certainly not the guy to turn that tide.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital review copy of this fine historical work.

[Giovanna Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Haven't read anything by Beevor before, so I can't speak on his previous work. This however was a bit, confusing.
Stylistically, it was like it wasn't written in English first, it had words missing, (eg pg 29 'the Tsar was mounted on a grey, the Tsaritsa...' a grey what? one can assume horse, being pedantic and if English wasn't my first language I wouldn't have a clue) many sayings in French that weren't translated and not short passages either ('J'excellais dans l'art de me travesty et je posse dais route une collection de tres beaux costumes'. we're not all linguists), terms that should have made it to the glossary list but didn't (p11 the Metropolitan Veniamin' is that a priest, senior? Junior? whereas 'pogrom' did make the glossary), an index printed in such large font it would be for a large print novel.
Then there were ALL the people, look I get that, however a glossary for them would have been helpful, not the 4 pages at the front noting all the illustrations (which are notated in the text).
It seemed rushed. Slapdash.
All that really took away from my enjoyment of the subject, and yes there were some interesting observations, photos I hadn't seen, but that was lost in all the text.
In summary, p306 'It was the impression of the Tsar's humiliation at the hands of his overbearing wife and peasant Rasputin...'. Sure there was corruption, but the author leaves us with that as the last thought?