History is not like fiction—it is real. The things that happened in the past cannot be changed, altered, or ignored, though we may wish to do all those things at times. Interpretations, of course, may vary, but the basic facts do not change. As a writer of historical fiction I’m acutely aware of this with every word I write. And because of this I am committed to interpret history as honestly and with as unbiased a view as I possibly can.
Unfortunately, history is not always a pretty thing—neither are the characters who people it. And that is probably doubly true about the history of Russia. In a country where millions have been slaughtered in war or various political purges, it is inconceivable that an account of these things could be rosy. I’m certain this has already been noted by readers of previous books in THE RUSSIANS series. But this particularly is the case in White Nights, Red Morning. I could have taken the easy route and avoided the many sensitive elements involved in the era in which this book is set. It would have been safer to focus on World War I and to treat Rasputin lightly. But I believe the events surrounding Rasputin are extremely relevant to an understanding of a crucial time in Russian history. Thus I have forged ahead, often negotiating precarious waters, but always with a sense of responsibility both to history and to my readers. This commitment has constrained me not to whitewash or skip over the facts, though some may be distasteful or even shocking.
My intent is not sensationalism, nor even realism for realism’s sake. In fact, White Nights, Red Morning relates only a portion of Rasputin’s corrupt reign—and the least shocking at that! The line between truth and vulgarity in this case is a very thin one. I ask you, the reader, to proceed not so much with an open mind as with a mind constantly aware of the old adage, “He that ignores history is doomed to repeat it.” My hope and prayer is that you will see beyond the sordid facts of Rasputin’s life to the courage and strength of the other people in the multifaceted story of THE RUSSIANS.