The Power and the Glory – and the Money

Abstract

These two anthologies continue Charles Halperin’s exploration of the reign of Ivan the Terrible. The first presents nineteen essays, each focused on a question that Halperin believes needs further investigation, ranging from family relationships to state policy to cultural achievements. He discusses sources and interpretations, then suggests additional avenues for further research. The second volume analyzes Ivan’s place in Russian historical memory in light of the new openings for discussion in the post-Soviet period. Looking at popularized accounts, textbooks, and specialist research, Halperin finds a range of opinion from supporters of canonization to harsh critics of policies and methods of implementation. Part Two examines Ivan on the silver screen, focusing on Eisenstein’s classic (pre-1991 but imprinted on everyone’s memory) and Lungin’s recent portrayal of the tsar in the Oprichnina years. What it meant to be Ivan remains as contested in the public mind as it is among specialists. Throughout both volumes, a consistent thread is the continuing influence of Karamzin’s concept of the two Ivans, Ivan the Good and Ivan the Terrible. Two centuries later, Ivan the Only continues to stride over the landscape of the Russian past. Halperin’s studies point the way to new assessments of his impact.