Russian History in Biographies of Its Major Figures

Nikolai Ivanovich Kostomarov (1817–1885) – an outstanding Russian historian, writer, ethnographer, “chronicler of the Russian land,” author of the famous “Russian History in Biographies of Its Major Figures,” presented in vivid and lively narratives and images of the past. “Everything... that was dramatic in our history… is told by Kostomarov, and told with the immediate mastery of a storyteller who experiences deep pleasure from his narrative,” wrote Vasily Klyuchevsky, admiring the strength and originality of the renowned figures of the past recreated by Kostomarov. This edition includes chapters from the “Russian History,” which covers seven centuries, beginning with pre-Christian times and the reign of Prince Vladimir the Saint and ending with the Time of Troubles and the rebellion of Stepan Razin.