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Ivan the Terrible: First Tsar of Russia Paperback – Illustrated, 7 July 2006

by Isabel De Madariaga (Author)

3.9 57 ratings

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The definitive biography of Ivan the Terrible, setting the Tsar's infamous cruelty within the context of 16th-century Russia

"[A] magnificent biography . . . illuminated by the wisdom gained by its author from a lifetime of learning and reflection about the place of Russia in the wider world."― Orlando Figes, New York Review of Books

"Likely to become the definitive work on Ivan for some time."―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Ivan IV, “the Terrible” (1533–1584), is one of the key figures in Russian history, yet he has remained among the most neglected. Notorious for pioneering a policy of unrestrained terror―and for killing his own son―he has been credited with establishing autocracy in Russia. This is the first attempt to write a biography of Ivan from birth to death, to study his policies, his marriages, his atrocities, and his disordered personality, and to link them as a coherent whole.

Isabel de Madariaga situates Ivan within the background of Russian political developments in the sixteenth century. And, with revealing comparisons with English, Spanish, and other European courts, she sets him within the international context of his time. The biography includes a new account of the role of astrology and magic at Ivan’s court and provides fresh insights into his foreign policy. Facing up to problems of authenticity (much of Ivan’s archive was destroyed by fire in 1626) and controversies which have paralyzed western scholarship, de Madariaga seeks to present Russia as viewed from the Kremlin rather than from abroad and to comprehend the full tragedy of Ivan’s reign.

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ISBN-10

0300119739
ISBN-13

978-0300119732
Edition

Illustrated
Publisher

Yale University Press
Publication date

7 July 2006
Language

English
Dimensions

15.88 x 3.81 x 23.5 cm
Print length

526 pages
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Maureen Perrie

16

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Simon Sebag Montefiore

3,525

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The History Hour

29

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Product description

Review

"A simply brilliant book... a colossal achievement of magisterial scholarship, beautifully readable prose and superb characterisation... Professor Isabel de Madariaga remains the empress of Russian historians" Simon Sebag Montefiore, Evening Standard "Almost every page of de Madariaga's magnificent biography is illuminated by the wisdom gained by its author from a lifetime of learning and reflection about the place of Russia in the wider world." Orlando Figes, New York Review of Books "A significant biography of the 16th-century Russian czar... Likely to become the definitive work on Ivan for some time." Publishers Weekly (starred review) "De Madariaga addresses knowledgeable readers, but the beautiful prose of this great book will tempt all others. Highly recommended." Choice"

About the Author

Isabel de Madariaga is emeritus professor of Russian Studies in the University of London. She is the author of Russia in the Age of Catherine the Great, published by Yale University Press.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; Illustrated edition (7 July 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 526 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300119739
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300119732
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 3.81 x 23.5 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 695,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 644 in Russian Historical Biographies
- 704 in Historical Biographies 1501-1700

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3.9 57 ratings

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3.9 out of 5

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Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2016

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very good

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Ian

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 August 2018

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interesting book

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olga

Isabel de Madariaga was also very good in separating the real cruelties commited by Ivan and ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 September 2014

I am a Russian historian and I am afraid I disagree with some reviewers. Mark Koltrane, for example, reproached Isabel de Madariaga for ommitting some information about the Tsarina Maria, published by Luba Balagoeva. With all the due respect, one cannot consider Luba Balagoeva as an expert in the Ivan the Terrible's reign. Balagoeva is a journalist, not a researcher. And her text about the Tsarina Maria is a poem! A poem could hardly be considered a source of reliable historical information.
Not only Karamzin, but also Russian sources called the second wife of Ivan, tsarina Maria, a "Tartar". This was not a mistake, although Mark Koltrane thought so. This term "Tartar" meant also Muslim and was applied not only to ethnic Tartars, but to all Muslim people in the same way as in the contemporary Spanish the word "moro" means a Muslim, not only somebody from the North of Africa. And Maria was a Muslim, she had to convert to the Christianity in order to marry Ivan.
But, in my opinion, the basic problem of some reviewer's judgements on the book by Madariaga is that they tried to value it by pointing out that some information is missing. Of course, there is some information missing. It is always so, in every historical study some information is missing. Nobody can be comprehensive. One should value books by what it is in them, not by some missing information.
In my humble opinion, "Ivan the Terrible" by Isabel de Madariaga has a very original and inspiring approach. Madariaga examined the Ivan's story in the context of other European monarchs who lived at the same historical period as he, which nobody did before her. Her comparison between Henry VIII and Iván, the politics of their courts is new and thought provoking. Madariaga was the first researcher to find an English analogue of the Russian custom of the "krugovaia poruka thought to be only Russian practice. Actually, her constant comparison between Ivan's Russia and other European societies helps to understand that Russian history of that period is much less exotic than it was thought before Madariaga's study.
Isabel de Madariaga was also very good in separating the real cruelties commited by Ivan and the "Black Legend" created by his Livonian rivals in order to discredit him (one reviewer mentions this legend comparing Ivan with another legendary heroe, Drakula). Madariaga's deep knowledge of Russian language, Russian history and Russian historical tradition allowed her to create a truly important text about the Russia of Ivan the Terrible, the best Western history of him, at least in my opinion.

15 people found this helpful

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Dr. Robert A. Josey

history's mirror

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 November 2009

I agree with previous reviewer about some of the inconsistencies in this book. The chapter on Ivan's death, for instance, doesn't say how he actually died.

But Madariaga certainly chronicles this tragic episode in Russia's history with verve and an unflinching eye. It is a sickening volume in many respects. Worse than any horror novel could possibly conceive.

What struck me throughout, in so many chapters and individual passages, was the fact that the name 'Josef Stalin' could have been substituted at virtually any point. Change 'boyars' to whatever group was being victimised amongst the Soviet elite; and 'oprichiniki' to the 'NKVD'; religion to fanatical Marxism; and you have a portrait of another Russian totalitarian tyranny.

Madariaga could certainly have spoken about this in the final analysis - 'The Legacy of Ivan the Terrible'. Stalin saw himself as almost a reincarnation of Ivan the Great. During World War II he wrote quotations from Ivan in his notebooks. 'Teacher, teacher.' And so on. Stalin's obsessive perfectionism whilst overseeing the creation of Eisenstein's biographical film underlines this too.

What a teacher to have.

Stalin may not have had Ivan's grotesque bloodlust for ingenious torture methods or wished to participate in the violence personally - but the paranoia, the malice, the obsession with 'sin and redemption', the need to destroy/eradicate all percieved threats, is there.

In fact the parallels between the two - and Ivan's 'lessons' to his future disciple - are absolutely shocking and worth a book on their own. Also, whilst Ivan's victims run into many thousands of deaths, Stalin's number in the millions. (And his particular legacy is still alive, respected and well, just waiting in the wings to return.)

9 people found this helpful

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stupormundi

turgid

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 May 2013

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I read this immediately after the Robert Massie book on Peter the Great. What a difference .. Massie was masterly and was a smooth effortless read: this is in comparison a turgid constipated read and meanders around without offering any colour insight or pleasure ...

4 people found this helpful

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Parker Ideas And Business S.L

Exhaustivo

Reviewed in Spain on 20 August 2019

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Un libro para enmarcar. Lo recomiendo como lectura previa al trabajo de Simon Sebag Montefiore.

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Joel Rubin

A WONDERFUL BIOGRAPHY

Reviewed in the United States on 6 May 2012

Verified Purchase

This is probably the best book ever written about Ivan IV. It is scholarly and well written and avoids the undocumented nonsense that is often found in most other biographies of him. For anyone seeking to know more about Ivan IV, I highly recommend this biography.

9 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

An Excellent, Comprehensive History of 16th Century Russia

Reviewed in the United States on 15 June 2009

Verified Purchase

This work is a thorough history of Russia during the mid-16th century. The author presents a balanced view of the source material, emphasizing what is known, why it is known, and what is not known, about a critical formative period of Russia. That said, it is not a book for a beginner. It presupposes an understanding of Russian history and institutions, as well as some knowledge of the Russian language.
One addition that would have been helpful would have been a set of "family trees" for the main princely and boyar families. The numerous Bel'skys, Shuiskys, not to mention the ubiquitous Iur'ev-Zakhar'ins (the later Romanovs) become very confusing. In addition, the author frequently refers to individuals by their initials, where the full name and patronymic would have been helpful.

13 people found this helpful

Tony

well worth buying

Reviewed in the United States on 4 January 2014

Verified Purchase

This is a very good book on a difficult person in history to understand. Russian politics in this period is extremely complex, but the author explains it well. Ivan did have some issues with mental illness, but the bottom line is that he ruled for over 35 years and helped Russia become a world power. I highly recommend this book.

6 people found this helpful

B. Smith

I read his bios of Catherine and Peter the Great and wanted then to learn about Ivan

Reviewed in the United States on 15 November 2016

Verified Purchase

I am a fan of Robert Massie's historical books. I read his bios of Catherine and Peter the Great and wanted then to learn about Ivan. This book is very factual and well documented, but Madariaga does not tell it in an interesting and readable way. She lacks Massie's storytelling skill. You will learn a lot from the book but you will have to be dedicated to keep reading this dry narrative.

14 people found this helpful

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