Boris Godunov (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Russian Historical Tragedy of Power, Succession Crisis, and the Time of TroublesBy Alexander Pushkin
Length1h 40m
About this audiobook
Boris Godunov is Pushkin's austere historical tragedy of power, legitimacy, and national memory, set during Russia's Time of Troubles after the death of Tsarevich Dmitry. Written in blank verse and prose-like dramatic scenes, it rejects neoclassical constraint for a Shakespearean breadth of voices: tsar, monk, pretender, boyar, and crowd. Its fragmented structure and political ambiguity make it a foundational work of Russian historical drama. Alexander Pushkin, often regarded as the creator of modern Russian literature, composed the play in 1825 while in internal exile at Mikhailovskoye. His fascination with Karamzin's History of the Russian State, combined with his own uneasy experience of autocracy and censorship, shaped a drama alert to the moral burden of rule and the unstable relationship between ruler and people. Readers interested in political tragedy, Russian history, or the evolution of modern drama will find Boris Godunov indispensable. It is not merely a dramatization of dynastic crisis, but a profound meditation on guilt, rumor, popular silence, and the perilous theater of sovereignty.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 3.8 (3K)
Includes Goodreads
GenreLiterary Classics
Length1 hr 40 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 8, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Boris Godunov (Annotated)
17CRACOW. HOUSE OF VISHNEVETSKY
2Introduction
18CASTLE OF THE GOVERNOR MNISZECH IN SAMBOR
3Synopsis
19A SUITE OF LIGHTED ROOMS.
4Historical Context
20NIGHT. A GARDEN. A FOUNTAIN
5Author Biography
21THE LITHUANIAN FRONTIER
Show all chaptersShow less
6PALACE OF THE KREMLIN
22THE COUNCIL OF THE TSAR
7THE RED SQUARE
23A PLAIN NEAR NOVGOROD SEVERSK
8THE VIRGIN'S FIELD. THE NEW NUNNERY
24OPEN SPACE IN FRONT OF THE CATHEDRAL IN MOSCOW
9THE PALACE OF THE KREMLIN
25SYEVSK
10NIGHT. A CELL IN THE CHUDOV MONASTERY
26A FOREST
11FENCE OF THE MONASTERY*
27MOSCOW. PALACE OF THE TSAR
12PALACE OF THE PATRIARCH
28A TENT
13PALACE OF THE TSAR
29PUBLIC SQUARE IN MOSCOW
14TAVERN ON THE LITHUANIAN FRONTIER
30THE KREMLIN. HOUSE OF BORIS
15MOSCOW. SHUISKY'S HOUSE
31Analysis
16PALACE OF THE TSAR
32Reflection
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