Scholarly studies of Rasputin

[sara]

Hi,
Does anyone know if there are scholarly studies on Rasputin (published by a university press)? I've noticed popular books about him like Radzinsky's, but only the occasional journal article and some mention in university press published books (the best example I can think of is the Figes and Kolonitskii book, Interpreting the Russian Revolution: The Language and Symbols of 1971 (at least, I think that's the name)).
Another question, I produced a paper last spring on Rasputin's effect on the Russian Revolution, looking at what effect him and his behavior had on the Orthodox Church, the army, and the conservative monarchists and their opinion of the tsar. Does anyone think this is of worthwhile study? I think it is, but I'm just a historian-in-training.

[Elisabeth]

I will ask around. I think this is a subject very worthy of closer study.

[bluetoria]

Sara, hello   It sounds like a very interesting study - if you were able to post any of it, I'm sure it would be fascinating to read.  

[Forum Admin]

Spiridovitch (former chief of secret personal security to Nicholas II) wrote perhaps the first scholarly biography of Rasputin in the 1930s. "Raspoutine" Payot, Paris, 1935.  It is very good, especially since Spiridovitch himself had much first hand information and many people who knew R. where still alive and interviewed for the book. Russian and French editions can be found, never published in English. I've translated a few specific sections myself.

[Laura Mabee]

FA, where can one find the french copies?  :-/

[Forum Admin]

They occassionally turn up in online book dealers' offerings. I've seen perhaps 2 or 3 copies a year turn up. Try addall.com.

[Belochka]

Hi sara,

If you are conversant with Russian I can recommend this unusual Russian language book:

Grigori Rasputin Bez Mifov i Legendi (Gregory Rasputin without (the) myths and legends) compiled by Elvira Vatala, (2000), Armada Press, Moscow pp 718

This is a compilation of private letters, telegrams, protocols used by the Okhranka, diary enteries (Voyeikov, Vyrubova, and members of the Romanov family etc.) and including ministerial statements and the Department of Police, plus other archival sources located by the author and published for the first time in the book.

All the best,

Belochka  

[Elisabeth]

Joseph Fuhrmann, a Professor of History at Murray State University, apparently does work on precisely this topic. He is giving a paper at the SCSS Conference in Nashville, TN, this April entitled "Rasputin: Was He Really the Power Behind the Throne?"

I don't know if Professor Fuhrmann has published any papers on Rasputin, but it is probably worth inquiring. If you do a Google search on his name, his address at Murray State comes right up.

[rudy3]

Here are two dissertations:KILCOYNE, MARTIN JOSEPH  The political influence of Rasputin. Diss.  Washington 1961, Mark Kulikowski  Rasputin and the fall of the Romanovs. Diss. NY 1982