Princess Tarakanova

The action of the novel "Princess Tarakanova" begins in the winter of 1775. A young aristocrat appears in Europe, claiming to be the daughter of Empress Elizabeth from her secret marriage to her favorite Alexei Razumovsky. Princess Tarakanova declares her rights to the Russian throne and tries to gain the support of European monarchs and influential Russian nobles, including the powerful Count Orlov. The princess is unaware that Empress Catherine has already ordered her loyal count to capture the "adventurer" and deliver her to St. Petersburg. The novel "Burned Moscow" narrates the most difficult days of the Patriotic War of 1812, when soon after the Battle of Borodino, Field Marshal Kutuzov decides to surrender the former capital of the Russian state to the French. Napoleon occupies Moscow, believing he has won the war. However, the city left by the Russian troops quickly turns into a real hell for its occupiers.