Ivan IV, the sixteenth-century Russian tsar notorious for his reign of terror, became an unlikely national hero in the Soviet Union during the 1940s. This book traces the development of Ivan's positive image, placing it in the context of Stalin's campaign for patriotism. In addition to historians' images of Ivan, the author examines literary and artistic representations, including Sergei Eisenstein's famous film, banned for its depiction of the tsar which was interpreted as an allegorical criticism of Stalin.
'This intriguing interdisciplinary study of the Stalin years deserves to be read widely.' - The Russian Review
'In all, then, this lively and intelligent study adds to the growing literature that documents the interactions between leadership and creative intelligentsia in the shaping of Stalinist dictatorship. It will prove useful to anyone interested in Stalinism, history-writing, or the arts and literature of the Soviet era.' - Catherine Merridale, Department of Historical Studies, University of Bristol, Seer
'In all, then, this lively and intelligent study adds to the growing literature that documents the interactions between leadership and creative intelligentsia in the shaping of Stalinist dictatorship. It will prove useful to anyone interested in Stalinism, history-writing, or the arts and literature of the Soviet era.' - Catherine Merridale, Department of Historical Studies, University of Bristol, Seer