The library of the project “History of the Russian State” is the best monuments of world literature recommended by Boris Akunin, which reflect the biography of our country, from its very origins. The name of Antonin Ladinsky is well known to the older generation of book lovers: his historical novels were published in millions of copies! An officer of the White Army, he lived in exile for many years, was considered one of the best poets of Russian Paris, and his first experiments in prose were highly appreciated by Ivan Bunin. He finished the saga “Dove over Pontus”, begun in France, in his homeland. Today, his prose - a unique fusion of adventure novels, medieval legends and artistic life stories of the Roman Empire, Byzantium and Kievan Rus - is again surprisingly relevant and timely.