Ivan the Terrible 1st Edition

I read this book as a requirement for an upper division history course. From the introduction, I thought this book would be interesting. But unless you like to wade through pages upon pages of Russian names, I would select a different source to learn about Ivan the Terrible. Even though names are important in history, this book seemed to insert names many times when they were not necessary to understanding the point being made. The flow of the narrative was also severely broken up. You will find yourself reading a paragraph with fifteen different names in it, and at the end, you will ask what was the paragraph even trying to say. Overall, I was disappointed in the book. If it was not a required reading, I would have not finished it. From other sources that I have read, this period in Russian history is filled with exciting and intriguing events, yet you would not know that from this book.

great for hsc history. found really helpful. helped allot with my assignment. easy to understand and read. very much recommended

Very factual.

The book, in my opinion, is very good. Do keep in mind, it's not a historical fiction, but rather scolarly(is that a word? :) work, which is pretty thorough. Do give it a chance.

Book came in really bad conditions. Pages were missing and it clearly had water damage. Some of it could not be read and the book smelled bad.

Useful book in studying Russian history

This book had some good information, but it was really dry and I had trouble staying focused on / interested in it. I also prefer biographies that are a bit more about the person, and less just about the political atmosphere (although I get that it's difficult to really focus on the person when there aren't many reliable sources).

This is a short biography of one of the most well-known of the Czars of the Russian Empire. However, as well known as Ivan the Terrible is, there is not much actual accuracy in what is "known" or believed about the life of Ivan the Terrible. This small biography aims to correct the myths that have grown up around the life of Ivan the Terribl.