Helen Rappaport and Dominic Lieven are among the writers, thinkers and historians exploring the downfall and legacy of Grigori Rasputin. The Siberian peasant and faith healer rose from obscurity to become an adviser to Tsar Nicholas II and his family, before being assassinated in December 1916, and the contributors examine whether he was motivated by sex addiction or was a seer who only wanted the best for Russia.

• Jamie Laird