Rasputin the Rascal Monk (1917) is a work of historical nonfiction by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the height of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, Rasputin the Rascal Monk indulges in the paranoid atmosphere of the First World War to weave a sinister tale of espionage and political conspiracy. Despite the popularity and accessibility of his work, Le Queux was genuinely concerned—and immensely paranoid—about the realities of international espionage, using his own research and experience to piece together otherwise shadowy narratives for his readers. Toward the end of the First World War, William Le Queux turned his attention from Germany to the looming threat of Russia. In this dedicated—though factually loose—recreation of the life of Rasputin, Le Queux investigates one of history’s great anomalies: the ability of a rough, Siberian peasant to ascend to the highest echelon of Russian society. In Rasputin the Rascal Monk, which incorporates years of research and experience to weave a tale of fear and intrigue, Le Queux makes his case for the possibility that Rasputin was not only a confidant of the Tsar and Tsarina, but that he was a spy for Kaiser Wilhelm himself. Ever paranoid about the threat of German political influence worldwide, Le Queux provide the reading public with violent, disturbing, and fanatical tales of the infamous Rasputin while forwarding his own agenda. While not much is known about the author, it is possible his claims of firsthand knowledge regarding the murky movements of spies and diplomats throughout Europe and Britain were true. One thing, however, is certain: his paranoia was far from unfounded. This edition of William Le Queux’s Rasputin the Rascal Monk is a classic work of historical nonfiction reimagined for modern readers.
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About the author
William Le Queux (1864-1927) was an Anglo-French journalist, novelist, and radio broadcaster. Born in London to a French father and English mother, Le Queux studied art in Paris and embarked on a walking tour of Europe before finding work as a reporter for various French newspapers. Towards the end of the 1880s, he returned to London where he edited Gossip and Piccadilly before being hired as a reporter for The Globe in 1891. After several unhappy years, he left journalism to pursue his creative interests. Le Queux made a name for himself as a leading writer of popular fiction with such espionage thrillers as The Great War in England in 1897 (1894) and The Invasion of 1910 (1906). In addition to his writing, Le Queux was a notable pioneer of early aviation and radio communication, interests he maintained while publishing around 150 novels over his decades long career.
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