Since ancient times in Russia, Cossacks called an independent armed population. During the wars, these freedom-loving people, striving for isolation and independence, made up a considerable part of the Russian troops. The customs and customs of the Cossacks were captured in many literary works. And then you will learn about the best books about the Cossacks.
The Quiet Don by Mikhail Sholokhov
For the novel "Quiet Don", Mikhail Sholokhov was awarded the Nobel Prize. The main character of the book is the Don Cossack Grigory Melekhov. The reader observes Gregory from childhood to adulthood, and together with him participates in great historical events (World War I, Revolution and Civil War). In this difficult time, when everyone faced a choice: whose side to take - red or white, Grigory Melekhov could not take a clear position, since he did not support the actions of both sides. Sholokhov portrays his hero as an “extra man” who does not fit in his time and cannot find his place in it.
The skill of Mikhail Sholokhov is fully manifested in the truthful description in this book about the Don Cossacks of the most important historical events that broke into the moderately predictable lives of ordinary people, destroying fate, crippling life, turning away yesterday’s friends from each other. With trepidation and tenderness, the author writes about the beauty of the Don, the grandeur of native nature.
The theme of the forbidden and tragic love of Gregory and Aksinya, which the heroes carry through wars, death and suffering, runs through the whole novel.
"Taras Bulba" by Nikolai Gogol
One of the most famous books about Zaporizhzhya Cossacks is the story of Nikolai Gogol "Taras Bulba". In the story, the author colorfully and truthfully talks about the life, customs and values ​​of Ukrainian Cossacks-Cossacks. Gogol does not poetize Cossack life: their peaceful everyday life is filled with drunkenness and revelry, their military campaigns are unjustified cruelty. This historical book about the Cossacks is based on real events.
The first half of the XVII century. Taras Bulba - Cossack colonel. His sons Ostap and Andriy come to him, who graduated from Kiev. The father decides to go with his sons to the Zaporizhzhya Sich, which is desperately opposed by a disenfranchised mother. Contrary to her pleas and exhortations, Taras Bulba leaves with his sons.
In Sich, Taras raises the Cossacks on a campaign against the Poles, who terrify the civilian population. Polish invaders with senseless cruelty kill defenseless women and innocent children, rob and burn villages. But even the Cossacks bravely fight the enemy army.
The sons of Taras actually turned out to be glorious warriors. The old Cossack was proud of them. But the youngest son - Andriy - more sensitive and romantic than the eldest Ostap, betrayed his comrades, going over to the side of the enemies because of his love for a beautiful noble Polish girl. The father could not forgive his son, and without hesitation killed him in battle.
Ostap is captured by the Poles, Taras Bulba powerlessly watches his brutal execution in the crowd. Soon the Poles managed to capture and execute Taras. Before death, the old Cossack predicts the imminent unification of the Russian lands, the destruction of enemies and the triumph of Orthodox Christianity.
“Fire and Sword” by Henryk Senkevich
The first historical novel of the famous Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz. “Fire and Sword” - an art book about the Cossacks-Cossacks, who, led by Bogdan Khmelnitsky, rose uprising against the Commonwealth. And although the main characters of the trilogy novel are Polish gentry, Zaporizhzhya Cossacks are described in great detail and colorful.
Despite the seriousness of the events described, the book has the features of an adventure novel: ups and downs, pursuits, fights.
"Emelyan Pugachev" by Vyacheslav Shishkov
In this book about Cossacks, the author describes the events of the peasant war under the leadership of the Don Cossack Emelyan Pugachev with high historical certainty. Taking advantage of the people's faith that the murdered emperor Peter III remained alive, Pugachev declared himself a surviving emperor.
Both in life and in the book, Emelyan Pugachev is an ambiguous person. He is a robber for the authorities, an idol for the common people. At different times, the attitude towards his personality underwent changes. In Soviet times, for example, Emelyan was considered a hero who fought for a better life for the people. Only one thing is undeniable: the scale of Pugachev’s personality, who managed to lead a large number of people, who upheld the idea of ​​liberating the enslaved people.
This book about the Cossacks is read very easily and interestingly, forcing the reader to empathize with the heroes, resent the injustice, which ordinary people became constant victims of. In the novel, a large place is given to the egg Cossacks.
Our Little Paris by Victor Likhonosov
This book describes with extraordinary warmth the life of Ekaterinodar (modern Krasnodar) - the capital of the Kuban Cossacks. Recreating the events of the late XIX - early XX centuries, Likhonosov tells the story of the fate of both wonderful but unknown people, and prominent figures who went down in the history of the city and country.
"Bayazet" Valentin Pikul
“Bayazet” is one of the most interesting novels by Valentin Pikul. It will feel about the terrible, but heroic page of the Russian-Turkish war - the Bayazetan seat. The novel describes genuine historical events. Some characters, in particular the main character Andrei Karabanov, are invented by Valentin Pikul, but many have real prototypes.
Together with officers and soldiers of the Russian army, the fortress fearlessly defended the linear Cossacks (including the Kuban).