Chronicle of the Russian Tsars: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Russia

by David Warnes

Book Overview

The lives of tsars famous and infamous are covered in a lively series of biographical portraits stretching from the late fifteenth to the early twentieth centuries. Discover the facts behind the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500050937
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 2.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.2" x 1.0" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

"God save the Tsar!"

If you are interested in Russian history, as I am, this book should be essential reading for you. It details the reigns of all of the Russian Tsars from their beginning to the end of Nicholas II. Additionally, there are sidebar paragraphs and whole picture pages (with beautiful color photos) that tells the reader more about life and times in Russia during a particular reign. We read about the begining of Rus as a very small land area which, over the centuries, grew into the country we are familiar with today, even with all of the changes of the past decade or two. I found the entire book fascinating, and would highly recommend it!

Highly recommended as informed and informative reading for non-specialist general readers

For more than a thousand years, Russian history was an uninterrupted story of both internal and external political violence from which occasionally emerged rules of legend. In "Chronicle of the Russian Tsars" The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Russia" by historian and author David Warnes provides a comprehensive 224-page history that draws upon original source materials (including personal letters, contemporary historical documents, and maps of major battles) to provide a detailed, chronologically organized history of the reign of each of the twenty-six tsars who held the throne of the Russian empire. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Chronicle of the Russian Tsars" provides succinct biographies of the tsars, time lines, genealogical information. Of special note are the more than ninety 'sidebars' and special features providing social, cultural, and technological contextual information. Ideal for students researching Russian history, "Chronicle of the Russian Tsars" is also highly recommended as informed and informative reading for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the tsars of Russia.

Excellent ready-reference tool

The first Russian state emerged in the late 9th century as a federation of Slavic kingdoms and tribes around Kiev, under the leadership of Rurik, who almost certainly was of Scandinavian origin. Later rulers included such major figures as Alexander Nevsky (who defeated the Teutonic Knights) and Vasily II (who made the Orthodox Church independent), but the author begins his survey with Ivan III "the Great" in 1462. Each tsar or tsarina gets a boxed summary of personal data, an historical survey of the reign, a variety of illustrations and relevant maps, and often a basic genealogical drop-chart. Warnes is a well-known scholar of Russian history and culture and his interpretations of five centuries of Russian history are astute and well-written. Specialists in Western Europe often know very little about Russian history and the several dynasties that made it. This volume makes a good ready-reference resource.

Well made book

I received it as a gift and was pleased to see that it is a very good book. Well written, good pictures and well researched. It makes an excellent reference.

One of the best Czar books ever

I love this book it has so much info about the Czar.Ilove the maps time lines and charts one of the best Czar books I ever read.