Titles, contents list, author's preface & list of characters to front. In pre-revolutionary Russia, Grigori Rasputin’s influence over Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra meant he was effectively ruling the country. In a time of great unrest in Russia, his controversial involvement with the imperial family made him a target for many – including the notorious Prince Yusupov and his associates, who would eventually murder the ‘Mad Monk’ with poisoned cream cakes and a bullet to the head. One of the richest men in Russia, Prince Yusupov was married to the Tsar’s niece, Irina, thought by many to be a sham marriage designed to hide his homosexuality. From his flamboyant lifestyle and friendships to his commitment to a cause so great he’d kill for it, his life story makes for a fascinating read. Based on personal interviews and meticulous research, this enthralling biography captures the flavour of the bizarre, eventful and extraordinary life of the man who assassinated Rasputin and unintentionally helped to precipitate the Russian Revolution.