Kinship and Politics: The Making of the Muscovite Political System, 1345-1547

Rating:
Summary: An unfortunate loss to scholarship
Review: The fact that this book has already gone out of print is a tragedy to Russian scholarship. While most scholarly libraries should have this book, it is essential reading for students of Russian history. This book presents a new and interesting take on the nature of the Muscovite autocracy, arguing that Moscow may not have been as absolut as it appears. Kollmann argues that the Tsars of Moscow were, in fact, very limited by the kinship bonds among the boyars and princes of the royal court and that the absolutism of the monarchy was actually a tool of the boyars to disguise their intrigues, it was a myth of rulership. While this does strain credibility in some places (such as the reigh of Ivan IV), it is still an interesting and stimulating argument. A must read for students of Medieval Russia.

Rating:
Summary: An unfortunate loss to scholarship
Review: The fact that this book has already gone out of print is a tragedy to Russian scholarship. While most scholarly libraries should have this book, it is essential reading for students of Russian history. This book presents a new and interesting take on the nature of the Muscovite autocracy, arguing that Moscow may not have been as absolut as it appears. Kollmann argues that the Tsars of Moscow were, in fact, very limited by the kinship bonds among the boyars and princes of the royal court and that the absolutism of the monarchy was actually a tool of the boyars to disguise their intrigues, it was a myth of rulership. While this does strain credibility in some places (such as the reigh of Ivan IV), it is still an interesting and stimulating argument. A must read for students of Medieval Russia.