Felix Yusupov and Grand Duke Dmitriy Pavlovitch

[Kalafrana]

It rather depends on how frequent his visits to male brothels were, in comparison with his sex life with his wife.

I do remember reading in Greg King's book on the Russian court and extract from KR's diary in which he sums up his history up to that point. It includes the line 'and did not sin for seven years'. That is quite a long time. I will need to check the book before I can say any more on this point.

Back to Dimitri and Yussupov.

Ann

[Stardust]

Didn't Alexandra say that he (Dmitri) behaved like who ever he was with for the moment? That might be something to consider too. I wish I could remember where I read this. I know Felix admitted that he charmed people often. He writes afterward in "Lost Splendor"  that he knows saying so sounds vain.

I think that was from the book 'A lifelong passion"   Felix did mention have a strong influence on his (dmirti)character.  I also find it a little strange how he describes Dimitri, as almost like how he would describe himself.

[Kalafrana]

Reading about Felix nearly 100 years later, I don't like him (far too melodramatic for my tastes!), but clearly he was a very charismatic person, and people fell under his spell.

Ann

[Duchess Hydrangea]

Reading about Felix nearly 100 years later, I don't like him (far too melodramatic for my tastes!), but clearly he was a very charismatic person, and people fell under his spell.

Ann

Same here. I know/knew people with traits like Felix and they were impossible. If I had to be stuck in a cardboard box in the middle of the Atlantic in the dead of winter with either Felix or Dmitri, I'd choose Dmitri.

[Kalafrana]

As to the way men addressed each other and behaved towards each other then, someone has just posted a link to the Kaiser's letters to Nicholas, which are quite interesting in this regard. http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Willy-Nicky_Letters_between_the_Kaiser_and_the_Czar

Wilhelm normally addresses Nicholas as 'Dearest Nicky', describes him and other men in terms of being dear old friends and similar. Probably more intimate than most men today.

Ann

[rachel5a]

What's interesting is page 381, where it quotes from Yusupov's memoirs, saying that both he and Dmitri wanted to marry Irina, but that Irina only wanted to marry Felix, at least that's what Felix says she said after he ( Felix) told Irina that Dmitri had wanted to marry her too. To quote Felix, " Dmitri bowed before a desicion which he realised was final, but our friendship was to suffer and our relations were never the same afterwards." One has to take Felix with a grain of salt though.

Any other sources for GD Dmitri wanting to marry Irina?? Was it only in Youssupoff book?

[edubs31]

I believe Greg King made the claim also in his book "The Man Who Killed Rasputin". Check out pages 110-111 if you have a copy. Where King pulled his facts from I'm not sure.

[ashanti01]

What's interesting is page 381, where it quotes from Yusupov's memoirs, saying that both he and Dmitri wanted to marry Irina, but that Irina only wanted to marry Felix, at least that's what Felix says she said after he ( Felix) told Irina that Dmitri had wanted to marry her too. To quote Felix, " Dmitri bowed before a desicion which he realised was final, but our friendship was to suffer and our relations were never the same afterwards." One has to take Felix with a grain of salt though.

Any other sources for GD Dmitri wanting to marry Irina?? Was it only in Youssupoff book?

If I recall correctly, Princess Zenaide wrote to Felix, stating she had spoken to the Dowager Empress who had said she preferred Dmitri for Irina. However, that despite her own desires, she would do nothing to stop a marriage between Felix and Irina, if Irina wished it.