Lost Splendor: The Amazing Memoirs of the Man Who Killed Rasputin

by Prince Felix Youssouppoff

Born to great riches, lord of vast feudal estates and many palaces, Felix Youssoupoff led the life of a Grand Lord in the days before the Russian Revolution. Married to a niece of Czar Nicholas II, he could observe at close range the rampant corruption and intrigues of the imperial court, which culminated in the rise to power of the sinister monk Rasputin. Finally, impelled by patriotism and his love for the Romanoff dynasty, which he felt was in danger of destroying itself and Russia, he killed Rasputin in 1916 with the help of the Grand Duke Dimitri and others. More than any other single event, this deed helped to bring about the cataclysmic upheaval which ended in the advent of the Soviet regime. Here is an unforgettable true story of intrigue, murder, and revenge.

314 pages, Paperback

Published July 31, 2014

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The memoirs of the prince who orchestrated the killing of the mad priest Rasputin. Details the history of his family through his exile all the way to the end of his life. Interesting background at first but boring after a while. The prince is a real self-centered little prick. Rasputin is only mentioned a few times until about 193 pages in the book. Considering that, I felt misled by the book because I was only interested in the events leading to the murder of Rasputin and what happened after also. For the most part it was ok.

[Yooperprof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of an exceptionally privileged Russian aristocrat who lived his "best life" in a world of incredible luxury before World War I. Felix Youssoupoff earned his 15 minutes of global fame by being the leading member of the conspiracy to kill Rasputin in winter 1916 - and "hosting" the murder in the basement of his grand palatial house in St. Petersburg.

He was married to one of Tsar Nicholas II's nieces - Irina, the daughter of Grand Duchess Xenia.

This memoir was published in 1952, the first of a two-volume set. I don't know how "reliable" or accurate are Prince Felix's recollections - for many of the events he recounts he provides the only "historical" account, and to be honest, he doesn't always come across as the most reliable of sources.

I have to note that this memoir has a number of instances of casual anti-semitism. It's not something that Prince Felix is obsessed about, but it was clearly in his "frame of mine" that some of Russia's 20th century was due to the machinations of various Jews. That this book was published in the early 1950s is testament to the enduring force of anti-semitism among the Russian elite.

[B K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and full of fascinating anecdotes and details... Beautifully written.