Count Sergei Witte and the Twilight of Imperial Russia: A Biography: A Biography

Sergei Witte served as finance minister and later prime minister of Russia during the reigns of Alexander III and Nicholas II, and was in large part responsible for the development policies which saw Russia transformed from a peasant economy into an industrial nation. This is the first biography of Witte in English. "Sergie Witte (1849-1915), who served as finance minister and later premier of Russia, was a remarkable character, a man of enormous energy and talent. He played a major role in the construction of Russia's transcontinental railroad system, pushing Russia onto the path of a belated industrialization and modernization." Witte's spectacular rise during the reign of Alexander III was followed by a more troubled relationship with Nicholas II, who ultimately broke with his premier in 1906. Having negotiated the Portsmouth Treaty that ended the Russo-Japanese War and drafted the October Manifesto that made Russia a constitutional monarchy, Witte had worn out his welcome in the imperial court. He withdrew into an embittered retirement, worked on his memoirs, and spent his last decade - in Bernard Pares's words - "watching a set of fools demolish a mighty empire." This is the first full-scale biography of Witte in English, by the historian who edited and translated Witte's memoirs. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Acknowledgments 1. The Formative Years, 1849-1865 2. The Odessa Years, 1865-1879 3. St. Petersburg and Kiev, 1879-1891 4. Monsieur Vite, 1889-1892 5. Minister of Finance, 1892-1894 6. A New Reign, an Old Course, 1894-1896 7. The Witte System in Operation, 1892-1899 8. Questions of War and Peace, 1896-1899 9. Decline and Fall, 1899-1903 10. A Mere Spectator, 1903-1904 11. Political Spring, July-December 1904 12. In the Wake of Bloody Sunday, January-June 1905 13. Peace with Honor? 14. Return Horne 15. Out of the Frying Pan, into the Fire 16. Honeymoon? The First Ten Days 17. Keeping the Promise of October 17 18. Revolution and Counterrevolution 19. "The Loan That Saved Russia" 20. Implementing the October Manifesto 21. The Last Lap 22. Exile? Assassination? May 1906-June 1907 23. The Stolypin Years, June 1907-September 1911 24. Last Years, 1911-1915 Afterword Notes Bibliography Name Index Subject Index The formative years, 1849-1865 The Odessa years, 1865-1879 St. Petersburg and Kiev, 1879-1891 Monsieur Vite, 1889-1892 Minister of Finance, 1892-1894 A new reign, an old course, 1894-1896 The Witte system in operation, 1892-1899 Questions of war and peace, 1896-1899 Decline and fall, 1899-1903 A mere spectator, 1903-1904 Political spring, July-December 1904 In the wake of Bloody Sunday, January-June 1905 Peace with honor? Return home Out of the frying pan, into the fire Honeymoon? : the first ten days Keeping the promise of October 17 Revolution and counterrevolution "The loan that saved Russia" Implementing the October Manifesto The last lap Exile? : assassination? : May 1906-June 1907 The Stolypin years, June 1907-September 1911 Last years, 1911-1915.