Rasputin: A Short Life

GrigoryRasputin,theSiberianpeasant-turned-mystic,wasasfascinatingashewasunfathomable.Heplayedtheroleofthesimpleman,eatingwithhisfingersandboasting,'Idon'tevenknowmyABC...'But,astheonlypersonabletorelievethesymptomsofhaemophiliaintheTsar'sheirAlexis,hegainedalmosthallowedstatuswithintheImperialcourt.Duringthelastdecadeofhislife,heandhisbandof'littleladies'cametosymboliseallthatwasdecadentandremoteabouttheroyalfamily.Hisroleinthedownfallofthetsaristregimeisbeyonddispute.Butwhowashereally?Prophetorrascal?Inthiseye-openingshortbiography,whichdrawsonpreviouslyunpublishedmaterial,FrancesWelchturnsherinimitablewrygazeononeofthegreatmysteriesofRussianhistory.