Wild Card

A novel inspired by real events offers an engaging account of the Time of Troubles, one of the darkest periods in Russian history.

Without dull lectures or rote learning, the book presents a historical view of the besieged Trinity–Sergius Monastery, epidemics of scurvy and famine among the monks. The author adds tension and details while staying faithful to historical accuracy.

Olga Eryomina, winner of the International Literary Prize named after Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.

The chronicle novel “The Wild Card” is based on documentary evidence and is devoted to the events of the Time of Troubles—the sixteen-month defense of the Trinity–Sergius Monastery against the forces of False Dmitry II. The march of voivode Davyd Zherebtsov from Turukhansk to help the besieged, and the expulsion of the Polish troops of Sapieha and Lisovsky in 1608–1610 are examined. Against a broad historical backdrop, the book portrays key participants: abbot archimandrite Ioasaf, the siege voivodes Grigory Dolgorukov and Aleksey Golokhvastyy, the mangezey voivode Davyd Zherebtsov, monks, streltsy, and peasants who defended the monastery. The book is aimed at a wide range of readers.