Russian autocrats. From the founder of the Romanov dynasty Tsar Mikhail to the guardian of autocratic values Nicholas I

The historical essays of the outstanding Russian scholar A.E. Presnyakov are dedicated to the autocratic rulers of the Russian land - Tsars Mikhail Fyodorovich, Alexei Mikhailovich, Alexander I, Nicholas I. Presnyakov presents an honest picture of the existing reality and... - most importantly - its creators. The author's essays are characterized by an objective analysis of the described epochs, an understanding of the true role of personality in history, its strengths and weaknesses. S.F. Platonov, A.E. Presnyakov's teacher, wrote about him as an exceptional researcher who "keenly scrutinized the phenomena of surrounding life, benevolently embraced all that he saw as the seeds of future development and strength".