The Murder of Rasputin: The Whodunnit of the 20th Century

On the night of Dec. 16, 1916, a group of conspirators murdered Grigori Rasputin, Russia's "Mad Monk." While the murder was meant to strengthen the Romanov dynasty, merely two months later it brought on the dynasty's downfall and ushered in a year of two revolutions that ended with the Bolshevik takeover of Russia and the eventual murder of the Tsar and his family. In many ways, Russia and the rest of the world are still dealing with the consequences of that murder.

Most narratives in books, films and even songs about the murder of Rasputin focus on the victim, whereas this course will shed new light on the perpetrators of the crime. Our story will take us not only to the magnificent Yusupov Palace in Saint Petersburg, but also to the Yusupovs' estates outside of Moscow and in Crimea, as well as to Oxford, Malta and Paris.

This course will take place 1:30-3:30 p.m. PDT Wednesdays on Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

Register

Register by Sept. 1, 3 p.m. PDT