Product Description

One of Russiaís greatest emperors, beloved of his subjects for his many liberalizing works domestically and for his victory over the invincible Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander I presumably died in 1825, at the age of 48. Ever since then, rumors have swirled that the young and vigorous Tsar, who carried within him a terrible secret, really faked his death to expiate an unpardonable sin, and spent the next 40 years as a starets, one of those holy men who in the 19th century wandered through Russia doing good works. The starets, brilliant and uncommonly erudite, was one Feodor Kuzmich. The author, who has spent over 20 years researching the legend, makes a compelling case that the great Alexander I and the humble starets were one and the same.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #845948 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Alexis S. Troubetzkoy was born in Paris in 1934 into a Russian princely family and emigrated to the United States at an early age. He and his family currently live in Toronto, Canada.

Customer Reviews

Surprise, suprise!
True historians would shy away from this book, given the rather bold proclamation of its title.

They give short shrift to the legend of Alexander's disapperance because the odds of it having been pulled would seem to be so slight. Plus such a myth would seem so "Russian", so attractive as a mysterious tribute to "Alexander the Blessed."

I shared that reluctance, but found this to be a fine story of Alexander's life by a person with strong credentials and convictions. The bibliography is excellent.

So even if the premise is far fetched on a purely logical basis, examining this book is well worth the time. I am very happy that I did - and not entirely convinced but that the author's point is worth further examination.