More than ever, terrorist acts command enormous attention. Concerns about terrorism have led to sweeping new restrictive government policies on such matters as immigration and airline security. In an often repeated syndrome, the one lasting legacy the departed terrorists leave behind them is a grossly exaggerated overreaction by governments to their suicidal exploits. The overreaction derails the faith in liberty and the respect for diversity that characterize an enlightened civilization.

Sofia Perovskaya is a fascinating case study. She came from a privileged family with royal connections. She was not victimized by poverty, class or social stigma. She was known for being kind to the sick and devoted to her mother. We have much to learn from examining her peculiar turn of personality, one that takes over people who are generally intelligent, ascetic, creative, and motivated, and makes them killers who thirst for martyrdom.

This book is part of a series of profiles of historical terrorists. The profiles demonstrate the folly of the many in government and media who continue to confuse the desperate ';cause' adopted by the terrorist with the real cause of the terrorist act. Terrorism has deep roots in an irrational facet of the human psyche. Through this series we explore how, as society itself has moved toward pluralism and respect for human life, the terrorist act of self-immolation has emerged and grown in its appeal to the dark side of the psyche.

More than ever, terrorist acts command enormous attention.  Concerns about terrorism have led to sweeping new restrictive government policies on such matters as immigration and airline security.  In an often repeated syndrome, the one lasting legacy the departed terrorists leave behind them is a grossly exaggerated overreaction by governments to their suicidal exploits.  The overreaction derails the faith in liberty and the respect for diversity that characterize an enlightened civilization.

Sofia Perovskaya is a fascinating case study.  She came from a privileged family with royal connections.  She was not victimized by poverty, class or social stigma.  She was known for being kind to the sick and devoted to her mother.  We have much to learn from examining her peculiar turn of personality, one that takes over people who are generally intelligent, ascetic, creative, and motivated, and makes them killers who thirst for martyrdom.

This book is part of a series of profiles of historical terrorists.  The profiles demonstrate the folly of the many in government and media who continue to confuse the desperate “cause” adopted by the terrorist with the real cause of the terrorist act.  Terrorism has deep roots in an irrational facet of the human psyche.  Through this series we explore how, as society itself has moved toward pluralism and respect for human life, the terrorist act of self-immolation has emerged and grown in its appeal to the dark side of the psyche. 

Chapters

1.  The Power of a Literary Work .............................................................01

2.  The New Tsar Liberator.......................................................................25

3.  The Prophet of Anarchism, Mikhail Bakhunin.....................................38

4.  Birth of a Princess...............................................................................54

5.  He Called Her Gloomy Girl..................................................................64

6.  A Shot that Changed Russia Forever..................................................76

7.  A Select Harvest of Russian Seedlings...............................................82

8.  Terrorism Gets a Catechism................................................................90

9.  Going to the People...........................................................................110

10.  The Tsar's Second Family................................................................128

11.  Disorganizing....................................................................................140

12.  Terrorists Split Off.............................................................................152

13.  The Formation of Narodnaya Volya..................................................170

14.  Attack Is Made on a Train of Marmalade..........................................182

15.  Dynamite in the Winter Palace..........................................................192

16.  A Dictator Takes the Helm.................................................................204

17.  The Narodnaya Volya Love Affairs....................................................217

18.  "Our Girls Are Fiercer Than Our Men"...............................................230

19.  Death of a Tsar...................................................................................246

20.  "Sonia Has Lost Her Head"................................................................267

21.  Resolute to the End............................................................................291

Epilogue....................................................................................................300

Endnotes and Bibliography.......................................................................317