History's Worst F*ckboys: Rasputin

<p>Rasputin presented himself as a mystic healer, and preached that the only way to salvation was through sin — which sometimes, if rumour is to be believed, manifested in orgies.</p> <p>It's definitely giving f*ckboy behaviour.</p> <p>How did he make his way from poverty to the Russian royalty inner circle? What mystical powers did he claim to have? And did he really have a 13" penis?</p> <p>Helping Kate get to know this charismatic - and problematic - figure, is Frances Welch, author of <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/rasputin/frances-welch/9781780722320" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rasputin: A Short Life</a>.</p> <p><strong>*TW: This episode contains references to sexual abuse</strong>*</p> <p>This episode was edited by Tim Arstall and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.</p> <p>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at <a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>You can take part in our listener survey<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/6FFT7MK" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u> here</u></a>.</p> <p>All music from Epidemic Sounds.</p> <p>Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.</p><p>Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! UK & Ireland listeners please place your vote on the Spotify mobile app here: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>