The Czar's Madman
Encyclopedia
The Czar's Madman is a 1978 novel by Estonia
n writer Jaan Kross
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n nobleman, Timotheus von Bock, who has married a peasant girl named Eeva to prove everyone that good men are equal before nature, God and ideals. Eeva's brother Jakob analyses von Bock's life throughout his journal and tries to figure out if the nobleman is truly mad as everyone seems to believe. The Czar's Madman is arguably one of the best-known Estonian novels in the world.
Aristocrat Timotheus von Bock (the diarist's brother in law) writes a letter to the Czar criticising the way in which the Czar's family runs the country. He justifies this act by an oath made to the Czar to give an honest appraisal of the situation.
Von Bock is imprisoned as a traitor (although the reason for his imprisonment is kept secret, as is the letter) for 9 years before being released into house arrest on the basis that he is 'mad'.
Is he mad? Was it madness to offer criticism which inevitably led to imprisonment? Is he mad not to flee his house arrest when the opportunity arises? These are some of the issues raised and discussed in this novel.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n writer Jaan Kross
Jaan Kross
-Early life:Born in Tallinn, Estonia, studied Jacob Westholm´s Grammar school, Kross attended the University of Tartu and graduated from its School of Law...
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Plot introduction
This historical novel is about a LivoniaLivonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
n nobleman, Timotheus von Bock, who has married a peasant girl named Eeva to prove everyone that good men are equal before nature, God and ideals. Eeva's brother Jakob analyses von Bock's life throughout his journal and tries to figure out if the nobleman is truly mad as everyone seems to believe. The Czar's Madman is arguably one of the best-known Estonian novels in the world.
Title
The "Czar's Madman" is a reference to the main character who has been imprisoned for being so bold as to talk frankly to the Czar. This is enough to bring accusations of 'insanity'.Plot summary
The story is written in diary form, describing the impact of revolutionary thinking on the part of a family member.Aristocrat Timotheus von Bock (the diarist's brother in law) writes a letter to the Czar criticising the way in which the Czar's family runs the country. He justifies this act by an oath made to the Czar to give an honest appraisal of the situation.
Von Bock is imprisoned as a traitor (although the reason for his imprisonment is kept secret, as is the letter) for 9 years before being released into house arrest on the basis that he is 'mad'.
Is he mad? Was it madness to offer criticism which inevitably led to imprisonment? Is he mad not to flee his house arrest when the opportunity arises? These are some of the issues raised and discussed in this novel.
Characters
- Timotheus "Timo" von Bock – main character and colonel
- Eeva von Bock – wife of Timo
- Jakob Mättik – brother of Eeva (the narrator of the story)
Release details
- 1978, Estonia, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat (ISBN NA), Pub date ? ? 1978, (original Estonian)
- 1992, UK, The Harvill Press (ISBN 0-00-271181-8), Pub date 2 November 1992, Hardback (Translated by George Kurman)
- 1993, UK, The Harvill Press (ISBN 0-00-271201-6), Pub date 2 August 1993, Hardback (Translated by George Kurman)
- 1993, UK, Pantheon Books (ISBN 0-394-58437-6), Pub date ? January 1993, Hardback (Translated by Anselm Hollo)
- 1994, USA, W W Norton (ISBN 1-56584-121-2), Pub date ? ? 1994, paperback (Translated by Anselm Hollo)
- 2001, UK, The Harvill Press (ISBN 1-86046-579-X), Pub date 27 July 2001, Paperback (Translated by Anselm Hollo)