author
Vladimir Poliakoff
1880–1956
A Russian-born journalist and commentator who built a career in exile, he wrote vivid books on imperial Russia while also becoming known in Britain under the pen name "Augur." His work blends court intrigue, politics, and firsthand knowledge of a world transformed by revolution.
1 Audiobook
Viimeinen tsaaritar : Venäjän keisarinnan Aleksandran tarina
by Vladimir Poliakoff
About the author
Born in 1880, Vladimir Poliakoff was a Russian journalist and writer who later settled in Britain after exile in 1919. A contemporary reference describes him as having worked for the Daily Telegraph from 1920 to 1924 and for The Times from 1924 to 1936, and notes that he also wrote under the pen name "Augur."
He wrote several books in English, including Mother Dear: The Empress Marie of Russia and Her Times, The Tragic Bride: The Story of the Empress Alexandra of Russia, When Lovers Ruled Russia, and books on European politics and international affairs. His subjects often centered on the Romanovs, the fall of old Russia, and the wider tensions shaping Europe between the wars.
Poliakoff's appeal for modern listeners is the way he brings together biography, court drama, and political observation. His books reflect both a journalist's instinct for a strong story and the perspective of someone who had lived through the upheavals that ended imperial Russia.