Many contemporary biographers have claimed that Nicholas II was not fit to rule Russia. Elchaninov claims otherwise, speaking from first-hand experience. The first few chapters show Nicholas to be a caring, devoted and loving father and husband while the remaining chapters focus on his relationship with his government, the church, the army, the Russian people and on the policies which he pursued in his first eighteen years as tsar which he firmly believed were steering Russia towards a better future.

Written before the First World War and the Russian Revolution, Elchaninov writes in glowing patriotic language, portraying Nicholas II as an indefatigable “imperial worker” in the service of Russia’s best interests and the “sovereign father” beloved by the Russian people.

This book is highlighted with a 28-page section that contains 54 black and white photographs that depict the private world of the last tsar of Russia.