The novel by Valentin Ivanov "Ancient Rus" belongs to a conditional historical trilogy dedicated to the time of the formation of the Russian state - "the last epoch, about which no one has yet written." Since its first publication in 1961, this monumental epic has rightfully enjoyed the love of readers, has endured numerous reprints, and in 1985, the plot of the novel formed the basis of the film of the same name. The 6th century AD. The tribes of the Eastern Slavs are fragmented, but they speak the same language and live by similar traditions. Forced to defend against the raids of the heretical nomadic invaders, they begin to contemplate unification in the face of a common enemy…
The meticulously worked-out image of Slavic life and traditions, combined with an engaging plot and expressive portraits of characters, have earned Valentin Ivanov's books an honorable place among the best examples of the historical novel genre.
