Alexander II: The Last Great Tsar

In this book Edvard Radzinsky puts forward a compelling suggestion that there was a conspiracy within the court to kill Alexander; and this may have even included his son, the future Alexander III. Of course, the author never really states this openly, but rather only presents the question. There is no actual proof for this claim, but yet it is still an interesting one. Was it possible that various members of the government allowed the terrorists to be successful? Based on the bit of information Radzinsky presents, it does seem plausible.Radsinsky's book is a very intersting look at the conflicted reign of Alexander II. A liberator of the serfs, he was at the same time disillusioned by the results, leading to measures both reactionary and oppressive. It seems that only at the end was he planning to return to the great liberal values espoused early in his reign. Could it be that he died in order to protect the power and autocracy of the Russian nobility?I do take issue with one thing, however. On the back of the book, Alexander II is referred to as "Russia's Lincoln." Quoting from Wikipedia, "his brutal secret police, known as the Third Section, sent thousands of dissidents into exile in Siberia." I don't remember Lincoln doing that. And he also wasn't so nice in his territories of Poland and Lithuania. He may of have freed the serfs, but he was a tsar, not a democratically elected President. He was by no means a Lincoln, by any stretch of the imagination.That said, this book is necessary reading for anyone interested in nineteenth century Russian history. Would definitely recommend.

very pleased with purchase

This book is a fine work on the tsar Alexander II, the Tsar who freed the serfs and died a violent death at the hands of the revolutionaries who plagued his reign. I would reccommend this book to anyone interested in one of the most important Tsars in Russian history.

Good book content - excellent condition for the price

Great read

Wonderful book - thoroughly enjoyable. Good writer. Will read more of his books.

Well written and detailed book about the tsar..

The reign of Alexander II is marked by paradoxes. He was best known as the "Tsar-Liberator" for his emancipation of the Russian serfs; he also reigned over one of the most repressive periods in Russian history and faced 7 attempts on his life, ultimately resulting in his assassination. His personal life exhibited a similar dichotomy, as he was an unprecedented benefactor to children and orphans, yet humiliated his own sick wife and family by installing his mistress and later morganatic wife and their children in rooms in the Winter Palace.The eldest son of Emperor Nicholas I, Alexander was born in Moscow on the 17th of April, 1818. In 1841, he married the Princess Maria of Hesse and by Rhine, who, after her conversion to Orthodoxy became known as Maria Alexandrovna. He ascended the throne on the 19th of February 1855. Alexander II came to the throne in the midst of the Crimean War, a devastating military conflict for Russia which ended with the Treaty of Paris.After the end of the war, Alexander acknowledged that the serf-based economy would no longer support Russia's needs to compete with other nations. The landowning nobility objected to this idea, and were certain that the abolition of serfdom would undermine their primary sources of income. Though Alexander understood the devastating effects the abolitionof serfdom would have on the fortunes of the rich, in 1861 Alexander issued the "Emancipation Manifesto" which would abolish serfdom within the Russian Empire. Alexander also introduced other reforms. However, the reforms were often half-hearted and generally did not satisfy liberals and radicals whowanted a parliamentary democracy and the freedom of expression while the conservatives were opposed anyway.His personal life started to split the Romanov clan as well. He always had mistresses, but Princess Catherine Dolgorukaya was more than an exciting sexual adventure. She became is acknowledge partner even before the sickly Empress died. She gave him three children and after the Empress's death he married her and granted her the title Princess Yurievsky (after Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, Catherine's earliest ancestor). It was generally expected that she would be soon empress. The constant threats on his own life and hardly success suppression of the reformers forced Alexander II to think carefully about further reform and his personalfuture, and so, on 25th February, 1880, Alexander announced that he was considering granting the Russian people a constitution. Loris Melikof, the Minister of the Interior, was given the task of devising a constitution that would satisfy the reformers but at the same time preserve the powers of the autocracy. Again a paradox in itself!On 1st March, 1881, Alexander was travelling in a closed carriage, from Mikhailovsky Palace to the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. The terrorists were waiting for him and this time they succeeded. The Czar died through their bombs.Edvard Radzinsky, well known for his "Rasputin - the last word" and "The last Czar", proves again that he is an author of great talent. He presents the reader a life of paradoxes in an exciting manner, with deep thought, but easy to read. But he does not present the events only from the Czar's perspective. And this is such an advantage of this book as we only to often read the biographies and memoirs of the elite of Czarist Russia which are full of regrets about the lost splendour. One understands that Czarist Russia was not a just place ruled by a benevolent emperor which happy peasants working on their fields for the glory of Czar, country and the Church as after revolutionary propaganda wants us to believe, but a deeply unjust society where only a very, very small elite lived in absolute splendour while life for the majority was life was quite dreadful. The Emperor was autocrat and participating in the political decisions depended on his will. Alexander while open minded still wanted to preserve this. Freedom granted and at liberty to take away? He had to learn that people did not want charity - neither socially nor politically - by participation by right. This is a very political book!!As well in his private life Alexander II does not emerge as a very positive figure.All is about paradoxes with this Czar and with this man.Worthwhile reading - much to reflex about! 5 stars