Grigory Rasputin: Holy Man or Mad Monk?

Grigory Rasputin: Holy Man or Mad Monk?
A Wicked History
by Enid A. Goldberg & Norman Itzkowitz
128 pages
New York : Franklin Watts, c2008

Born a peasant in the cold land of Siberia, few would have thought that Grigory Rasputin would rise to such a prominent position with the Russian Monarchy. Apparently he was a charismatic man who would seem to hypnotize people, especially women, with his eyes. Some believed him to be a wicked and corrupt man while others believed he was a man of god. Personally, after reading this biography, I would have to agree that he is wicked. The Russian government may have already been in decline, but I believe Rasputin's influence sped up the process and caused a lot of trouble for the Royal family.

This exciting new biography series will fascinate middle school kids who like to learn about the bad guys. The books are in a small hardback format that is very reader friendly. The chapters are short and informative. There are lots of extras in each volume that include a timeline, glossary, and a list of relevant internet sites.

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