And again Ivan the Terrible or about the new book of the American scientist

Abstract

The study of the epoch of the first Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible may be an eternal theme of the humanities. The cultural workers are always interested in this object and it is also a very specific part of a historical memory. There are so many works which were dedicated to this period, that some years ago appeared new notion: The Study of Ivan the Terrible (“groznovedenie”). Somebody use this notion when tells about the studying of this period of Russian history. An object of this article is a new book, written by noted American scientist Charles J. Halperin. He is one of the world’s foremost historians of medieval Muscovy. And he also well-known for his works devoted to George Vernadsky and to the history of the Golden Horde and to the many others complex problems of Russian history. For many years he also had studied the epoch of Ivan the Terrible and this book some result of his study and meditation upon Russian history. The authors of this article stress the unbiased attitude of Charles Halperin to this very complex epoch with its various problems. They found that American scholar perfectly know the Russian and Western historiography. He also excellently orientates himself in wide circle of historical sources. In contrast to some western scholars Halperin recognize an authenticity of these sources. In the book written by Galperin one can find many new, original and fresh ideas and conclusions related to all periods of Ivan’s reign. Among such interpretations there is a phenomenon of the Oprichnina. Historian not only put this reign in a most possible wide historical context, but constantly make many interesting comparative-historical parallels. The authors of this article does not agree with some of Galperin’s ideas and statements, but they are fully confident that this book is a remarkable contribution in “groznovedenie”.

Keywords:

Charles J. Halperin, historiography, sources, Ivan the Terrible, reforms, Oprichnina