Messages

This edition includes texts from the correspondence of Ivan the Terrible — among them, messages to Queen Elizabeth of England and the oprichnik Vasily Gryaznoy, as well as the famous polemic with Prince Kurbskiy. First and foremost, the messages of Ivan the Terrible reflect his views on state power, as well as the foreign and domestic policies of the country. At the same time, they remain one of the most important monuments of Russian literature of the 16th century. A smart, educated, and well-read ruler, Ivan Vasilyevich quoted the Bible, Russian and ancient authors, excerpts from Polish and Lithuanian chronicles. His messages reflect the history, culture, and public thought of Russia at that time. The texts in this edition are presented in the translation of the renowned philologist and literary scholar Yakov Solomonovich Lurye and are accompanied by his commentary.