Douglas Smith

So propaganda, any monarchist pamphlets and Soviet era historiography, no consistent pattern, no verified victims, no ecclesial inquiry.

Modern historians such as Douglas Smith and Joseph Furman note the sexual myths of Rasputin grew exponentially after his death.

This is a classic case of symbolic scapegoating.

And so if you guys want all this, again, this document's available for anybody over at the Logos Academy.

So, um, I've enjoyed that.

And then also, um, I'm, I'm just started a new history by a guy called Douglas Smith, uh, who's written about Rasputin and the Russians in the past.

He's, uh, written a book about Vienna, um, called A City Without Jews, which is about what happens with the Nazi takeover of Austria, and it's based around the experience of one particular family.

Um, and it's the best sort of history because it combines both a big and timely theme with close personal detail about the experience of individuals with whom you can identify.

He's that, he's with that massive penis, isn't he?

Quite a varied response there, but do any of these have some truth to them? Betwixt the Sheets with me for this episode is a man who can tell us all, Douglas Smith, here to talk about the reality of Rasputin's relationships with the Russian royals, his religious teachings, and to question, why is he surrounded by so many rumors over 100 years after he died? Thank you for joining me, Betwixt the Sheets.

Let's get into it.

[upbeat music] Hello, and welcome to Douglas Smith.

How the hell are you?

I'm doing well.

When you dig down into what really was going on, you just keep scratching your head going, "This just can't be," but it's, actually was true, and it's, it's infinitely more fascinating.

And I've very much got that from you today.