The Czar's Madman

Last updated
The Czar's Madman
JaanKross TheCzar'sMadman.jpg
First edition
Author Jaan Kross
Original titleKeisri hull
Translator George Kurman or
Anselm Hollo
LanguageEstonian
Genre Historical novel
PublisherEesti Raamat
Publication date
1978
Publication placeEstonia
Published in English
1992
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages352

The Czar's Madman (Estonian : Keisri hull) is a 1978 novel by Estonian writer Jaan Kross.

Contents

Plot introduction

This historical novel is about a Livonian nobleman, Timotheus Eberhard von Bock  [ et ], [1] who has married a peasant girl named Eeva [2] to prove everyone that good men are equal before nature, God and ideals. Eeva's brother Jakob analyses von Bock's life throughout his journal and tries to figure out if the nobleman is truly mad as everyone seems to believe. The Czar's Madman is arguably one of the best-known Estonian novels in the world.

Title

The "Czar's Madman" is a reference to the main character who has been imprisoned for being so bold as to talk frankly to the Czar. This is enough to bring accusations of 'insanity'.

Plot summary

The story is written in diary form, describing the impact of revolutionary thinking on the part of a family member.

Aristocrat Timotheus von Bock (the diarist's brother in law) writes a letter to the Czar criticising the way in which the Czar's family runs the country. He justifies this act by an oath made to the Czar to give an honest appraisal of the situation.

Von Bock is imprisoned as a traitor (although the reason for his imprisonment is kept secret, as is the letter) for 9 years before being released into house arrest on the basis that he is 'mad'.

Characters

Awards and nominations

Winner of the 1989 Le prix du Meilleur livre étranger.

Release details

Related Research Articles

<i>The Red House Mystery</i> 1922 novel by A. A. Milne

The Red House Mystery is a whodunnit by A. A. Milne, published in 1922. It was Milne's only mystery novel.

<i>Hideous Kinky</i> 1992 book by Esther Freud

Hideous Kinky is an autobiographical novel by Esther Freud, daughter of British painter Lucian Freud and Bernardine Coverley and great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud. It depicts the author's unconventional childhood in Morocco with her mother and her elder sister, Bea. In 1998, a film adaptation was released.

<i>Baudolino</i> Historical novel by Umberto Eco

Baudolino is a 2000 novel by Umberto Eco about the adventures of a man named Baudolino in the known and mythical Christian world of the 12th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaan Kross</span> Estonian writer (1920–2007)

Jaan Kross was an Estonian writer. He won the 1995 International Nonino Prize in Italy.

<i>69</i> (novel) Novel by Ryū Murakami

69 is a roman à clef novel by Ryu Murakami. It was published first in 1987. It takes place in 1969, and tells the story of some high school students coming of age in an obscure Japanese city who try to mimic the counter-culture movements taking place in Tokyo and other parts of the world.

<i>The Holcroft Covenant</i> 1978 thriller novel by Robert Ludlum

The Holcroft Covenant is a 1978 thriller novel by Robert Ludlum. In 1985 it was made into a film of the same name.

<i>The Scorpio Illusion</i> 1993 novel by Robert Ludlum

The Scorpio Illusion is a 1993 novel by Robert Ludlum. It is a mix of suspense, drama, action and thriller.

<i>Sharpes Tiger</i> Book by Bernard Cornwell

Sharpe's Tiger is the fifteenth historical novel in the Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell and was first published in 1997. It acts as a prequel to the "original" Sharpe series, which begins in 1809, while Sharpe is a captain in the Peninsular War during the Talavera Campaign in Spain. In Tiger, Sharpe is a private in the 33rd Regiment of Foot, serving in southern India during the Siege of Seringapatam in 1799.

<i>The Matlock Paper</i> 1973 novel by Robert Ludlum

The Matlock Paper is the third suspense novel by Robert Ludlum, in which a solitary protagonist comes face to face with a massive criminal conspiracy.

<i>Night Frost</i> 1992 novel by R. D. Wingfield

Night Frost is a novel by R. D. Wingfield in the popular series featuring Detective Inspector Jack Frost, coarse, crude, slapdash – and holder of the George Cross. The novel was filmed for the ITV detective series A Touch of Frost.

<i>Skybreaker</i> 2005 novel by Kenneth Oppel

Skybreaker, sequel to Airborn, is a young adult fantasy novel written by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. It continues the adventures of young airship student Matt Cruse, and Kate de Vries, a budding scientist.

<i>Company K</i> 1933 novel by William March

Company K is a 1933 novel by William March, first serialised in parts in the New York magazine The Forum from 1930 to 1932, and published in its entirety by Smith and Haas on 19 January 1933, in New York. The book's title was taken from the Marine company that March served in during World War I. It has been regarded as one of the most significant works of literature to come out of the American World War I experience, and it is the most reprinted of all March's work.

<i>The Road to Omaha</i> 1992 novel by Robert Ludlum

The Road to Omaha is a novel by Robert Ludlum published in 1992. It is a sequel to his earlier book The Road to Gandolfo. Both are comedic thrillers concerning Army lawyer Sam Devereaux, who gets caught up in the schemes of General MacKenzie "The Hawk" Hawkins. The Hawk is seeking revenge after being unfairly drummed out of the United States Army at the start of the first book.

<i>Sombrero Fallout: A Japanese Novel</i> 1976 novel by Richard Brautigan

Sombrero Fallout: A Japanese Novel is Richard Brautigan's seventh novel, completed in 1975 it was published the following year.

<i>Purple Pirate</i> 1935 novel by Talbot Mundy

Purple Pirate is a fantasy novel by author Talbot Mundy. It was first published in 1935 by Appleton-Century. Parts of the story appeared in the magazine Adventure.

<i>Prince of the Blood</i> (novel) 1989 novel by Raymond E. Feist

Prince of the Blood is a fantasy novel by American writer Raymond E. Feist. It is the first book of the Krondor's Sons series and was published in 1989. It was later followed by The King's Buccaneer in 1992. A 15th anniversary "author's preferred" edition with portions of the book significantly rewritten was released in 2004. The novel focuses on Borric and Erland conDoin, and their personal growth as they journey to the Empire of Great Kesh and unwittingly become involved in a plot against both their own lives and the Empress herself.

<i>Sweet William</i> (novel) 1975 novel by Beryl Bainbridge

Sweet William is a 1975 novel written by Beryl Bainbridge, it was made into a 1980 film of the same name for which Bainbridge wrote the screenplay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Võisiku</span> Village in Estonia

Võisiku is a village in Põltsamaa Parish, Jõgeva County, in central Estonia. It is located about 5 km southwest from the town of Põltsamaa. Võisiku has a population of 376.

<i>Shadow of a Dark Queen</i> 1994 fantasy novel by Raymond E. Feist

Shadow of a Dark Queen is a fantasy novel by American writer Raymond E. Feist. It is the first book in The Serpentwar Saga and was first published in June 1994. It was followed by Rise of a Merchant Prince which was published in 1995.

<i>The Sweet-Shop Owner</i> 1980 novel by Graham Swift

The Sweet-Shop Owner is the debut novel of English author Graham Swift. It was published in 1980 to largely favourable reviews.

References

  1. Patrick O'Meara Timotheus Von Bock: Prisoner of Alexander I The Slavonic and East European Review, vol. 90, no. 1, 2012, pp. 98–123. JSTOR
  2. The couple had one son Georg von Bock  [ et ], who made a career in the Imperial Russian Navy.