About This Book
Empress Alexandra is triumphant. After producing four daughters, who are regarded as of no consequence by her mother-in-law, Dowager-Empress Minnie, and the court, she has at last given birth to a son and heir, the Tsarevich Alexei. This success, after so many years of praying, hoping and despairing, will not ensure her popularity in Russia, but it will at least convince everyone that Alix has fulfilled her primary duty as an Empress, which should in turn gain her more freedom to live as she wishes amid her cozy little family and away from the burdens and responsibilities imposed upon her by her position. However, her euphoria is short-lived when little Alexei starts to show signs of suffering from the 'English Disease,' hemophilia, that has killed so many of Alexandra's family and which she knows she has been responsible for passing on to her little baby, Alexei. Her pain and guilt at his appalling suffering is unbearable and the knowledge that Alexei will be unlikely to live to adulthood absolutely crushes the already fragile Nicholas. Worse, the war between Russia and Japan is becoming an ever-greater disaster by the day, fueling widespread strikes and civil disobedience in St. Petersburg that could possibly lead to outright revolution. Will the Imperial Family be forced to flee Russia altogether? Then a man is miraculously introduced to Tsar Nicholas and Empress Alexandra who appears to offer them renewed hope, not only for the recovery of their son but also for the recovery of the Imperial Romanov fortunes in Russia as a whole, a man who calms Alexei with his prayers and even stops his bleeding, and who exhorts the "Tsars," as he calls them, to "spit on all their fears, and rule." Here is a peasant, a wandering holy man, come to save Russia in that long-hoped-for alliance between the Tsar and the people. Rasputin will save Alexei; he will save Nicholas and Alexandra; and he will save Russia. All five volumes are (planned) as follows: 1. 'The Funeral Bride' 1884-1894 - published November 2015 2. 'The Empress of Tears' 1895-1904 - published March 2016 3. 'The Shaken Throne' 1904-1907 - published July 2016 4. 'The Pride of Eagles' 1907-1914 - published May 2017 5. 'No Greater Crown' 1914-1918 - to be published by March 2018
