Tales of Bygone Years

Valentin Dmitrievich Ivanov (1902–1975) is known to readers primarily as the author of epoch-making historical novels, united in a conditional trilogy, which reflects the key moments in the history of Ancient Russia that determined the course of its further development. Where did the Russian land come from? What is the historical mission of the Ancient Russian state and how did it come to be? Varangians, Vikings and «Normans» – who are they? The trilogy, which addresses a distant past shrouded in legends, sparked much debate but had enormous success with readers, becoming a classic of the historical genre, adapted into films, and reissued time and again. The second part of the trilogy – «Tales of Bygone Years» (1955) – as well as the thematically complementary story «I shall be repaid for...» (1968) is presented for readers' attention. In the pages of «Tales...» the author turns to the 9th century and compellingly recounts the life of our distant ancestors, settlers from Veliky Novgorod. Settling on the rich shores of the White Sea, they coexist peacefully with the indigenous tribes but soon find themselves embroiled in a brutal fight against sea bandits-Normans led by Ottar, a fearless and ruthless Viking...