The last of the tsars : Nicholas II and the Russian Revolution

A riveting account of the last eighteen months of Tsar Nicholas II's life and reign from one of our finest historians of Russia. In March 1917, Nicholas II, the last Tsar of All the Russias, abdicated and the dynasty that had ruled an empire for three hundred years was forced from power by revolution. Now, on the hundredth anniversary of that revolution, Robert Service, the eminent historian of Russia, examines Nicholas's reign in the year before his abdication and the months between that momentous date and his death, with his family, in Ekaterinburg in July 1918. The story has been told many times, but Service's profound understanding of the period and his forensic examination of hitherto untapped sources, including the Tsar's diaries and recorded conversations, shed remarkable new light on his reign, also revealing the kind of ruler Nicholas believed himself to have been, contrary to the disastrous reality. The Last of the Tsars is a masterful... In March 1917, Nicholas Ii, The Last Tsar Of All The Russias, Abdicated And The Dynasty That Had Ruled An Empire For Three Hundred Years Was Forced From Power By Revolution. Now, On The Hundredth Anniversary Of That Revolution, Robert Service, The Eminent Historian Of Russia, Examines Nicholas's Reign In The Year Before His Abdication And The Months Between That Momentous Date And His Death, With His Family, In Ekaterinburg In July 1918. The Story Has Been Told Many Times, But Service's Profound Understanding Of The Period And His Forensic Examination Of Hitherto Untapped Sources, Including The Tsar's Diaries And Recorded Conversations, Shed Remarkable New Light On His Reign, Also Revealing The Kind Of Ruler Nicholas Believed Himself To Have Been, Contrary To The Disastrous Reality. The Last Of The Tsars Is A Masterful Study Of A Man Who Was Almost Entirely Out Of His Depth, Perhaps Even Willfully So. It Is Also A Compelling Account Of The Social, Economic And Political Ferment In Russia In The Aftermath Of Alexander Kerensky's February Revolution, The Bolshevik Seizure Of Power In October 1917 And The Beginnings Of Lenin's Soviet Republic.--publisher. Robert Service. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 301-309) And Index. Le rabat de la jaquette indique : "In March 1917, Nicholas II, the last Tsar of All the Russias, abdicated and the dynasty that had ruled an empire for three hundred years was forced from power by revolution. Now, on the hundredth anniversary of that revolution, Robert Service, the eminent historian of Russia, examines Nicholas's reign in the year before his abdication and the months between that momentous date and his death, with his family, in Ekaterinburg in July 1918. The story has been told many times, but Service's profound understanding of the period and his forensic examination of hitherto untapped sources, including the Tsar's diaries and recorded conversations, shed remarkable new light on his reign, also revealing the kind of ruler Nicholas believed himself to have been, contrary to the disastrous reality. The Last of the Tsars is a masterful study of a man who was almost entirely out of his depth, perhaps even willfully so. It is also a compelling account of the social, economic and political ferment in Russia in the aftermath of Alexander Kerensky's February Revolution, the Bolshevik seizure of power in October 1917 and the beginnings of Lenin's Soviet republic." In February 1917, Nicholas II, the last Tsar of All the Russias, abdicated and the dynasty that had ruled an empire for three hundred years was forced from power by revolution. Now, on the hundredth anniversary of that revolution, the eminent historian of Russia, Robert Service examines Nicholas's reign in the year before his abdication and the months between that momentous date and his death, with his family, in Ekaterinburg in July 1918.The story has been told many times, but Service's profound understanding of the period and his forensic examination of hitherto untapped sources, including the Tsar's diaries and recorded conversations, shed remarkable new light on his reign, also revealing the kind of ruler Nicholas believed himself to have been, contrary to the disastrous reality.Last of the Tsars is a masterful study of a man who was almost entirely out of his depth, perhaps even wilfully so. It is also a compelling account of the social, economic and political foment in Russia in the aftermath of Alexander Kerensky's February Revolution, the Bolshevik seizure of power in October 1917 and the beginnings of Lenin's Soviet republic 'A timely and important book . . . he brings to it rare clarity and common sense. His book is a fast-paced account of the last sixteen months of the tsar's life; brief, sharp, but laced with well-judged feeling for the dramas of the time.' Catherine Merridale, Observer In March 1917, Nicholas II, the last Tsar of All the Russias, abdicated and the dynasty that had ruled an empire for three hundred years was forced from power by revolution. In this masterful and forensic study, Robert Service examines the last year Nicholas's reign and the months between that momentous abdication and his death, with his family, in Ekaterinburg in July 1918. Drawing on the Tsar's own diaries and other hitherto unexamined contemporary records, The Last of the Tsars reveals a man who was almost entirely out of his depth, perhaps even willfully so. It is also a compelling account of the social, economic and political foment in Russia in the aftermath of Alexander Kerensky's February Revolution, the Bolshevik seizure of power in October 1917 and the beginnings of Lenin's Soviet republic. The distinguished historian of revolutionary Russia, Robert Service brings a profound understanding of the period and a forensic examination of official and personal records to this study of Nicholas IIs life and thought in the 16 months after the February 1917 Revolution and his abdication. The book examines the political environments of the Tsars places of detention, Irkutsk, Tobolsk and Ekaterinberg; his thinking on Russia and his own role; and the circumstances of the Romanov familys execution in July 1918.