Rebels in the Name of the Tsar

In Rebels in the Name of the Tsar (originally published in 1989), Daniel Field explores one of the most puzzling phenomena of late imperial Russia: the devotion of the common people to the person of the Tsar. His comprehensive and engaging study addresses the question of “naïve monarchism” from the various standpoints of the government, the radicals, and the peasants themselves.

In the introductory chapter, Field reviews the “myth of the tsar” and how it has changed over time. He then moves on to detailed case studies of two important peasant uprisings: Bezdna (1861) and Chigirin (1877). Through analysis of well-chosen documents (translated for the first time) and intelligent, balanced commentary, Field offers the most complete interpretation yet of these important events. In the final chapter, he reexamines our preconceptions about peasants and draws innovative conclusions about the nature of their lives and thoughts. Rebels in the Name of the Tsar is essential reading for students and teachers of Russian history and peasant sociology, and for the interested layperson.