The first third of Sashenka is set in 1916-1917, in a St. Petersburg on
the verge of revolution. It's a perfect time and place to use as the setting for
a historical fiction novel, a fascinating era with a wealth of...
Beyond the Book
A Short Biography of RasputinRasputin's role within St. Petersburg's high society is detailed throughout the first section of Sashenka.
Gregori Yefimovich Rasputin was born in a small village in Siberia in 1864 or 1865. At the age of 18 he was sent to a monastery, possibly as a penance for a minor theft. He returned a changed man, and embarked on the life of a religious mystic. He married in 1889 and had three children. In 1901 he started traveling, spending time in Greece and Jerusalem, eventually settling in St. Petersburg in 1903 as a self-proclaimed holy man, healer and prophet.
He was initially well-received by the Russian Orthodox Church in St Petersburg. He was charismatic, with a talent for calming people and his forthright...
