Week 11 Annotation: Historical Fiction Category

Author: Robert Alexander

Title: Rasputin's Daughter

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publication Date: 2006

Number of Pages: 304

Geographical Setting: Russia (Petrograd)

Time Period: 1916-1917

Series: None

Plot Summary: Captivating story about what happened to The Romanov Royal family of Russia after the Russian Revolution through the eyes of a survivor who (fictionally) witnessed those events. The story is told as the fictional (but real) Maria Rasputin leads the readers up to the final accounting for what happened to her father when he was murdered in 1917.
Subject Headings: Rasputin, House of Romanov, Maria Rasputin

Appeal: Weaves historical facts in a likely scenario. Suspenseful look at history. Not very many people associated with the royal house of Romanov, and the elite who surrounded them actually escaped the period leading up to the Russian Revolution, and the period following. However, it is a true story that one of Rasputin's Daughters did survive, moved to Hollywood, CA and died in 1975. The appeal lies in the fact that there were few survivors to this epic period in history that might be able to lend some insight into what happened during those turbulent times. For Russian History fans, this is a must-read!

3 terms that best describe this book: Exciting, Historical, Intrigue

My Summary: I loved this book! One of my favorite all time books is Doctor Zhivago, and I have always been interested in his period of history 1916-1930 in Russian History. What the author managed to do was to thoroughly research all of the real life characters, and try to piece their connections leading up to and after the assassination of Gregori Rasputin. He blends just the right amount of Russian phrasing, along with critical details of Petrograd, the people, the Royals, world events, economics, the House of Romanov, Rasputin's family, and all who were affected by their actions- in order to paint a very full picture of what, and who led up to the murder of Gregori Rasputin. Even though some is fact and some is fiction, it turns out to be a very likely way and unfolding of events that things could have been true- if he could have actually interviewed the participants! A perfect blend of fact and fiction. This author is superb.

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