The diary of the French ambassador

Maurice Paleolog was the Ambassador of France in Russia truly at the "Fatal Minutes". He took his post shortly before the outbreak of World War I and left him shortly after the February Revolution. Being a representative of the power, which is the main ally of Russia in the war, he was dedicated to all the subtleties of the political and military affairs of the Russian Empire, entering its highest spheres, including the imperial family. In the circle of his acquaintances and interlocutors - the great princes and military leaders, ministers and members of the State Duma, influential industrialists and financiers, Russian and foreign diplomats. The ambassador, of course, was also caused by the "shadow" figures that influence the policy of the empire, such as Grigory Rasputin. All the time of his stay, the Paleologist kept a diary, in which he scrupulously celebrated both official meetings and negotiations and the great -society raautes, on which he received no less, or even more information. Subsequently, these diaries formed the basis of his memories of work in Russia, which became not only the most valuable, albeit somewhat biased, historical source, but also (given the ambassador"s outstanding literary gift), a very exciting reading for several generations of history lovers