Boris Godunov: a drama in verse by Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin

"Boris Godunov: A Drama in Verse" by Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin is a dramatic play written in the early 19th century. The work is set in Russia during the tumultuous reign of Boris Godunov, exploring themes of power, legitimacy, and the consequences of political ambition. The principal characters include Boris Godunov, a peasant’s son who ascends to the throne amid claims of tyranny and murder, and a young monk named Gregory Otrepiev, who emerges as a pretender to the tsar's title, leading to the central conflict of the play. The opening of "Boris Godunov" presents a vivid portrayal of political intrigue and unrest in Russia. As the play begins, key nobles discuss Boris's reluctance to ascend the throne amid the public's discontent and the shadow of the murdered tsarevich Dimitry. Characters like Prince Shuisky and Vorotinsky speculate on Boris's culpability in the young prince's death. The people's cries for leadership set the stage for Boris’s eventual reluctant acceptance of power and introduce Gregory Otrepiev, whose ambitions ignite a turbulent quest for the throne, foretelling the chaotic struggle for authority and legitimacy that unfolds throughout the narrative. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Download for free

For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.

Other formats & older devices

About this eBook

Author Pushkin, Aleksandr Sergeevich, 1799-1837
Translator Hayes, Alfred, 1857-1936
Title Boris Godunov: a drama in verse
Credits Produced by Stephen D. Leary and David Widger
Reading Level Reading ease score: 84.3 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Language English
LoC Class PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature
Subject Godunov, Boris Fyodorovich, Czar of Russia, 1551 or 2-1605 -- Drama
Category Text
eBook-No. 5089
Release Date
Last Update Feb 7, 2013
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
Downloads 1029 downloads in the last 30 days.

Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!