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Chief of the Cossacks

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The man who attempted to free the Cossacks from the rule of the Muscovites three hundred years ago.

184 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1959

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About the author

Harold Lamb

129 books161 followers
Harold Albert Lamb was an American historian, screenwriter, short story writer, and novelist.

Born in Alpine, New Jersey, he attended Columbia University, where his interest in the peoples and history of Asia began. Lamb built a career with his writing from an early age. He got his start in the pulp magazines, quickly moving to the prestigious Adventure magazine, his primary fiction outlet for nineteen years. In 1927 he wrote a biography of Genghis Khan, and following on its success turned more and more to the writing of non-fiction, penning numerous biographies and popular history books until his death in 1962. The success of Lamb's two volume history of the Crusades led to his discovery by Cecil B. DeMille, who employed Lamb as a technical advisor on a related movie, The Crusades, and used him as a screenwriter on many other DeMille movies thereafter. Lamb spoke French, Latin, Persian, and Arabic, and, by his own account, a smattering of Manchu-Tartar.

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Ehsan'Shokraie'.
763 reviews221 followers
March 3, 2019
یک داستان تاریخی خوب..از زمانی که تاراس بولبا اثر گوگول را خواندم,قزاق ها در نگاهم به مردمانی خاص تبدیل شدند..ازادگی ویژگی اصلی قزاق هاست و این فضیلت انان در ادبیات به زیبایی به تصویر در امده..
Profile Image for Kelly Hohenstern.
481 reviews6 followers
March 7, 2022
Book #5 of 2022: Chief of the Cossacks by Harold Lamb
(Landmark Book Series)
(Book #37 I’ve completed in the series)

I learned so much reading this book. To begin with, I had no idea who the Cossacks were or where they lived. I had never heard of Stenka Razin or the role he played for his people. This book answered all these questions for me in a manner that is understandable for all ages.

The Cossacks are a group of East Slavic Orthodox Christian people who live in communities in the steppes of Eastern Europe, areas and islands in the Don, Terek, and Ural river basins. They played an important role in the historical and cultural development of both Ukraine and Russia.

Stenka Razin was a Cossack leader who led a major uprising against the nobility and tsarist bureaucracy in southern Russia in 1670s. He played the role of almost a Russian Robin Hood. He is quoted saying, “I shall not force you to join me, but whoever chooses to come with me will be a free Cossack. I have come to fight only the boyars and the wealthy lords. As for the poor and plain folk, I shall treat them as brothers." He worked to help the common man to have a better life, up until the moment he was captured and executed.

I enjoyed reading about this “freedom fighter” trying to help his people gain a better life. Razin is still remembered today among his people in poems, stories, and songs for his courage and dedication to his people.
Profile Image for Bahman Bahman.
Author 3 books242 followers
November 10, 2014
استنکا رازین ملوان و رهبر قزاق‌های شورشی و کشاورزان دن و ولگا بود. رازین در نیمه دوم قرن هفدهم علیه تزار روسیه شورش کرد. استنکا رازین به کرانه‌های شمالی ایران و برخی شهرهای مازندران و گیلان نیز تازید. ولی پس از اخراج توسط شاه سلیمان که به درگیری بین قزاقها و سواره‌نظام شاه انجامید، از ایران فرار کرد. استنکا رازین پس از درگیری‌های پیاپی در نهایت از نیروهای دولتی روسیه تزاری شکست خورد و در ژوئن ۱۶۷۱ در مسکو گردن زده شد.
Profile Image for Caleb Meyers.
290 reviews2 followers
December 28, 2023
The Cossacks and the history of the Orient has always fascinated me. This is a great introduction to the life of an unknown, by highly influential chieftain named Stenka Razin. This shows again the tragedy of Russian history: cold, violent, long, diseased, yet without any purpose. Greatness always seems to be just around the corner for that nation, and yet they never acquire it. Where there is no vision, the people perish.
Profile Image for Bobbi.
234 reviews3 followers
September 30, 2021
I had never heard of Stenka Razin, the Russian Robinhood until now.
Profile Image for Joel.
36 reviews4 followers
September 29, 2007
Did you know that the Cossacks had a Cossack Republic? If you didn't, why not read this book?
Profile Image for Hamyt.
8 reviews
May 5, 2018
کتابی که منو چند بار وادار به خوندن کرد و به تاریخ قزاق ها علاقه مند،زندگی آزادمردی شجاع که مردانه برای آزادگی جان داد
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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