The best books on the history of Russia allow a Russian person to learn the fate of his state and imbued with the spirit of those times. Accessible and clear language of outstanding authors describes the most important military, religious and political events associated with one of the great powers of the world. The list includes not only scientific works, but also works of art of the historical genre, which are no less significant from a historical point of view. This is also confirmed by many critics who analyzed these colossal works.
10. Russian history | A. S. Trachevsky
"Russian history" (A. Trachevsky) opens the top ten books on the history of Russia. The scientific work of the author is a two-volume, which was created according to all the canons of those writers who were his predecessors. Among them are Karamzin, Soloviev and others. Carefully thought out and written monumental work tells about the main and historically significant events that took place in the Russian state. The first part highlights the history of ancient times until the middle of the 17th century. The second part tells of events until the end of the 19th century.
9. Peter the Great | A. N. Tolstoy
"Peter the Great" (A. Tolstoy) - a historical novel that was not completed by the author in connection with his death. However, this fact does not deprive this work of historical significance for the Russian people. The writer managed to finish only the first two books, the third was begun and brought to the event of the very beginning of the 18th century. The novel was written in the spirit of socialist realism and was the standard of a historical novel in Soviet times. Tolstoy in his work tries to draw parallels between Peter the Great and Joseph Stalin. He is trying to justify all the violence that occurred under these two greatest rulers in the history of Russia. The writer begins the story with real historical events of the 17th century.
8. Bayazet | V. Pikul
"Bayazet" (V. Pikul) - one of the best historical novels, which is dedicated to the tragic events that took place in Russia during the Russo-Turkish war. Bayazet fortress, which went down in history under the name “Glorious Bayazet seat”, was under the defense of a small Russian garrison. The work describes the most significant political events of that time, as well as the courage and patriotism of the fighters who defended their homeland.
7. The Great Russian plowman and features of the Russian historical process | L. Milov
"The Great Russian plowman and features of the Russian historical process" (L. Milov) - one of the best books on the history of Russia. The work highlights large-scale important issues relating to the historical fate of our state. The peculiarity of this historical work is primarily its structure and method of considering problems that are not inherent to this type of scientific monographs. The first part of the work includes a frontal study of peasant farming. The basis of the work lay scientific material of the 18th century. The author took more than a decade to collect the necessary, reliable information and its development.
6. From Russia to Russia | L. Gumilev
"From Russia to Russia" (L. Gumilev) - one of the most significant works of the writer, in which he covers the ethnic history of his Fatherland. The work is actually a continuation of his previous work “Ancient Russia and the Great Steppe). In his enormous work, he makes generalizations that allow a fresh look at historical factors. Events from the first century to the 18th century are described in a lively and very interesting language. The main task of the author was to captivate the reader, understand the main idea and make him finish the book. Gumilyov’s voluminous work includes three parts: “The Kiev Power”, “In Alliance with the Horde”, “The Kingdom of Moscow”.
5. Great Russia | V. D. Ivanov
"Great Russia" (V. Ivanov) is a chronicle novel in which he tells of historical events unfolding in Russia in the 16th century. This period is marked by the time of the development of Slavism and the emergence of Kievan Rus on the European political level.
4. The sovereigns of Moscow | Balashov D.M.
"Sovereigns of Moscow" (D. Balashov) - includes a series of books on the history of Russia. The first of them, entitled “Younger Son”, tells of a power struggle that takes place between two brothers Dmitry and Alexander Nevsky. The book also tells about the strengthening of the Moscow principality, which was promoted by the youngest son of the throne - Daniel Nevsky. The second book, entitled The Great Table, describes the confrontation between Moscow and Tver in the first half of the 14th century. This is one of the most controversial periods in the history of Russia. In total, the multi-volume work of Balashov includes 11 books.
3. Ice house | Lazhechnikov I.I.
"Ice House" (Lazhechnikov I.I.) is an artistic novel that incorporates many historical facts related to the history of Russia. The action of the book takes place in the early 40s of the 18th century in the city of St. Petersburg. One of the main characters Volynsky has a trembling feeling for the Moldavian princess Marioritsa Lelemiko. At the same time, a feud occurs between him and the favorite of Empress Anna Ioannovna - Biron. In the course of unfolding intrigue, Volynsky's lover dies, and then he himself. After his death, a child is born, whom Volynsky’s wife gives birth to. She returns from exile again to Petersburg. By the order of Anna Ioannovna, the erected ice house was crumbling, and the locals who had survived the ice floes were brought to their cellars.
2. Princess Tarakanova | G.P. Danilevsky
"Princess Tarakanova" (G. Danilevsky) is a novel in which there are many historical facts related to Russia. In the center of the work is Princess Tarakanova, who declared herself the heiress of the Russian throne. The first part of the work is the diary of a naval officer who became a participant in the arrest of the main character of the novel. Danilevsky describes the “political impostor” and her life, but does not give an unambiguous answer to who this woman actually was: the daughter of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna from her secret marriage or simply a foreign adventurer.
1. History of the Russian state | N. M. Karamzin
"History of Russian Goverment" (N. Karamzin) - the best book on the history of Russia. In a multivolume work, the author describes the history of our state, from ancient times to the "troubled times". It was this work by Karamzin that was taken as the basis by other authors when writing books on Russian history. The writer worked on his work until the last breath, but did not have time to finish it. The work includes 12 volumes, the last of which ends in a chapter entitled "Interregnum 1611-1612." Karamzin planned to bring his composition to the time of the beginning of the Romanov dynasty, but the writer's plans never came true.