Sergei Witte and the Twilight of Imperial Russia: A Biography (Google eBook)

Sidney Harcave

M.E. Sharpe, 2004 - Biography & Autobiography - 323 pages

"Witte's spectacular rise during the reign of Alexander III was followed by a more troubled relationship with Nicholas II, who ultimately broke with his premier in 1906. Having negotiated the Portsmouth Treaty that ended the Russo-Japanese War and drafted the October Manifesto that made Russia a constitutional monarchy, Witte had worn out his welcome in the imperial court. He withdrew into an embittered retirement, worked on his memoirs, and spent his last decade - in Bernard Pares's words - "watching a set of fools demolish a mighty empire." This is the first full-scale biography of Witte in English, by the historian who edited and translated Witte's memoirs."--BOOK JACKET.

Contents

• The Formative Years 18491865: 3
• The Odessa Years 18651879: 9
• St Petersburg and Kiev 18791891: 21
• Monsieur Vite 18891892: 35
• Minister of Finance 18921894: 49
• A New Reign an Old Course 18941896: 59
• The Witte System in Operation 18921899: 67
• Questions of War and Peace 18961899: 77
• Decline and Fall 18991903: 85
• A Mere Spectator 19031904: 105
• Political Spring JulyDecember 1904: 117
• In the Wake of Bloody Sunday JanuaryJune 1905: 129
• Peace with Honor?: 141
• Return Home: 157
• Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire: 167
• Honeymoon? The First Ten Days: 177
• Keeping the Promise of October 17: 191
• Revolution and Counterrevolution: 201
• The Loan That Saved Russia: 215
• Implementing the October Manifesto: 221
• The Last Lap: 231
• Exile? Assassination? May 1906June 1907: 239
• The Stolypin Years June 1907September 1911: 249
• Last Years 19111915: 257
• Afterword: 269
• Notes: 273
• Bibliography: 301
• Name Index: 313
• Subject Index: 319

Bibliographic information

• Title: Sergei Witte and the Twilight of Imperial Russia: A Biography
• Author: Sidney Harcave
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: M.E. Sharpe, 2004
• ISBN: 0765614227, 9780765614223
• Length: 323 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Historical; Biography & Autobiography / Political; History / Europe / Russia & the Former Soviet Union