Overtaken by the Night is a biography of Vladimir Dzhunkovsky (1865-1938), a man in all seasons, whose life story is in many ways a history of Russia during one of its most turbulent and troubled times. Born to privilege, educated at the elite Corps of Pages, Dzhunkovsky was close to the Imperial family and served as the adjutant to Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, the governor-general of Moscow. But he was also involved in civic activity: famine relief and outreach to the working class. During the revolution of 1905 he became governor of Moscow province and served in that post until 1913 when he was made the empire's security chief. He undertook to reform the secret police by curtailing some of the practices that aroused public ire.Dismissed from office in 1915 for attempting to warn the emperor of the dangers posed by Rasputin, Dzhunkovsky went into the army and served as a front line commander. A natural leader of men he held his units together even as revolution spilled into the trenches. In 1918 Dzhunkovsky was arrested but his trial in 1919 generated a large outpouring of public support that probably saved his life. He was held in prison until late 1921 after which he lived quietly and wrote his memoirs. At the end of the 1920's he began to be called to consult for the Soviet secret police on various technical maters such as passport law. During Stalin's "great terror" he was again arrested and was executed in 1938.