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Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: Biography, History, Russian History

Book Review:
Brian Moynahan's ''Rasputin: The Saint Who Sinned'' is a riveting and meticulously researched biography of one of history's most enigmatic and notorious figures. Moynahan, a seasoned journalist and historian, brings the full weight of his experience to bear on the life of Grigory Rasputin, the Siberian peasant who rose to wield immense influence over the final years of the Russian imperial court.

The book traces Rasputin's improbable journey from a tattered, black-clad wanderer muttering prayers to the ''beloved Friend'' of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Moynahan explores the source of his power: his seemingly supernatural ability to stop the bleeding of their hemophiliac son, Alexis. He delves into the complex psychology of the isolated and superstitious imperial family, showing how Rasputin's manipulative abilities meshed perfectly with their emotional needs.

But Moynahan does more than simply recount the legend. Drawing on previously unavailable documents, including confidential police reports and cabinet meeting memos, he sheds new light on Rasputin's life and even disputes some of the widely accepted details of his sensational murder. He paints a nuanced portrait of a man who was both a ''saint'' and a ''sinner''—a figure of genuine religious devotion and a debauched womanizer, a healer and a manipulator.

The Washington Post Book World hailed the book as ''balanced and well-researched,'' praising its ''shrewd analysis.'' It is indeed a model of historical biography, combining rigorous scholarship with a gripping narrative style that reads like a novel. ''Rasputin'' is not just a portrait of a man, but an unforgettable portrait of an age—the twilight of imperial Russia, a world of opulence, intrigue, and impending revolution. A truly mesmerizing read.