Prince Silver. A Tale of the Times of Ivan the Terrible

The novel "Prince Silver" was first published over 160 years ago, but it is still loved and sought after by readers today. While working on the work, A. K. Tolstoy thoroughly studied historical works about the era of Ivan the Terrible, as well as scientific research in the fields of ethnography and folklore.
On the pages of the novel, a vivid and lively picture of Russian life in the second half of the 16th century unfolds, serving as the backdrop for the tragic events that marked the reign of Ivan the Terrible. Before us lies the land of the boyars: the fearsome tsar with all the contradictions of his strong and complex nature and his loyal young voivode, the simple-hearted and brave Prince Silver; the noble boyar Druzhina Morozov and the cunning, calculating Boris Godunov; the bloodthirsty Malyuta Skuratov and the unbridled Afanasy Vyazemsky; the robbers defending the Russian land, and the cruel oprichniks, the formidable servants of Ivan IV Vasilyevich. Returning from the Livonian War to his native land, Prince Silver finds himself in the thick of political intrigues and conspiracies, facing enemies and traitors head-on. The hero is faced with the question: how to uphold the law and his own dignity while remaining loyal to the sovereign?