Kirjahaku

Despite its title, this book is not a biography of the English Imperialist but rather an on-the-spot and personal review of the tumultuous events leading up to, during, and immediately after the South African War of 1899-1902. Basing much of her account on personal observations and interviews, the author provides a fascinating overview of many of the intrigues and personalities of the time.

Cecil Rhodes is a classic English political biography by Princess Catherine Radziwill. Cecil John Rhodes PC (5 July 1853 - 26 March 1902) was a British businessman, mining magnate and politician in South Africa, who served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896. An ardent believer in British imperialism, Rhodes and his British South Africa Company founded the southern African territory of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia), which the company named after him in 1895.

Princess Radziwill's biography of the last Tsarina was first published in 1929. A granddaughter of Queen Victoria, Alexandra was left motherless at the age of six by the death of Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse. She married Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, shortly after he succeeded his father in 1894. An intensely religious, shy and obstinate woman, she deprecated the frivolity of court life at St Petersburg, shunned society, and lacked the gift of making herself popular. After giving birth to four daughters, the produced a son, Alexis, a sickly child who had inherited the potentially fatal condition of haemophilia. Once Rasputin, 'the holy man', seemed to be the only one whose presence could stop the bleeding attacks. His influence over the Tsarina, and her power over her well-intentioned but weak husband, proved disastrous and led to the Russian revolution which ended in personal tragedy for the family.Radziwill's life, critical yet sympathetic, helps to explain her personality without excusing her for the mistakes which led to the downfall of the dynasty. This new edition contains an introduction by John Van der Kiste.