Part 3: Chapter 23 Summary and Analysis

Alexandra filled her time with volunteer and hospital work for the war effort. The Catherine Palace was being used as a hospital. The Empress even enrolled in nursing courses for the war effort, taking Olga, Tatiana and her friend Anna Vyrubova with her. After two months, Alexandra was a certified war nurse. She constantly wrote Nicholas of her activities. After the revolution, 630 letters were found in Ekaterinburg, none of which was ever intended for publication. They were filled with details of the family's day-to-day life and Alexandra's advice to her husband regarding his demeanor.

Rasputin became a staunch ally of Alexandra. Rasputin lived in an apartment at 64 Gorokhovaya Street. This was in a section of Petrograd near the Fontanka Canal. The police monitored who came and went at his home and Rasputin, in time, became friendly with the detectives...