Maurice Paleologue

The Memoirs of Maurice Paleologue at the Russian Court of Tsar Nicholas II

In this second volume of Maurice Paléologue's memoirs of his time as French Ambassador to the Russian court of St. Petersburg, Empress Alexandra is walled up defensively in Tsarskoe Selo with Rasputin and Anna Vyroubova as they determinedly set about dominating the domestic and religious affairs of the country; and Tsar Nicholas II is indulging himself in his personal cult of victimhood by taking his train to Army H. Q., having promoted himself to Commander-in-Chief and Royal Scapegoat for anything and everything that could possibly go wrong there. In the meantime, Paléologue himself is deploying his formidable skills as a sage, wit and raconteur to attract about him all the most interesting people he can find, to gossip about the momentous events unfolding both inside Russia and on its embattled borders. In the background, Russia's World War I prospects are gradually improving with the greater availability of bullets, guns and shells to equip its armies - especially those commanded by Grand Duke Nicholas - but in St. Petersburg, the prospects for the Tsar are noticeably darkening to the point where even fervent tsarists are beginning to discuss openly the prospect of his assassination as the only way to save the country, and themselves.