The collection includes masterpieces of ancient Russian literature, both well-known ones, for example, “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign”, “Zadonshchina”, etc., and little-known ones, painting a picture of not only military-heroic, but also religious, commercial and educational life ancient Russian state. Almost all works are given in a new modern literary translation.

Compiled by O.V. Gladkova Contents: Unusual literature Preface A Word on the Law and Grace of Metropolitan Hilarion (translator: A. Uzhankov) Life of Efstaphius Plakida (translator: O. Gladkova )From `The Tale of Bygone Years` (translator: Anatoly Demin) The Tale of Boris and Gleb (translators: Lev Dmitriev, A. Ranchin) The Life of Theodosius of Pechersk (translators: Oleg Tvorogov, A. Ranchin) The Life and Walking of Daniel, Abbot of the Russian Land ( translator: Nikolai Prokofiev) Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh (translator: Dmitry Likhachev) The Tale of the Assassination of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky (translator: Nikolai Pak) The Tale of Igor's Campaign (translator: Nikolai Prokofiev) The Tale of Daniil Zatochnik (translator: A. Uzhankov) From Kiev-Pechersk Patericon (translator: A. Ranchin) The Tale of the Death of the Russian Land (translator: Nikolai Prokofiev) The Feat of Evpatiy Kolovrat (From “The Tale of the Ruin of Ryazan by Batu”) (translator: Nikolai Prokofiev) The Tale of the Life and Courage of the Blessed and Grand Duke Alexander ( translator: A. Uzhankov) The Tale of the murder of Grand Duke Mikhail Yaroslavich Tverskoy in the Horde (translator: Nikolai Pak) Zadonshchina (translator: Nikolai Prokofiev) The Tale of Babylon (translators: N. Droblenkova, Anatoly Demin) From `The Life of Stephen of Perm` (translator : Nikolai Prokofiev) From `The Life of Sergius of Radonezh` (translator: Nikolai Prokofiev) Walking beyond the three seas of Afanasy Nikitin (translator: Nikolai Prokofiev) The Lay of Mercury of Smolensk (translator: A. Uzhankov) Life of Isidor Tverdislov, the Rostov holy fool (translator: O. Gladkov) From `The Lives of Zosima and Savvatiy Solovetsky` (translator: S. Mineeva) The Tale of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery (translator: L. Korobeynikova) Ermolai-Erasmus. The Tale of Peter and Fevronia (translator: O. Gladkova) From `Correspondence of Ivan the Terrible with Andrei Kurbsky` (translator: Andrey Karavashkin) From `Kazan History` (translator: N. Trofimova) From `The Life of Archpriest Avvakum` (translator: Nikolai Prokofiev )The Tale of Juliania Lazarevskaya (translator: Nikolai Prokofiev)The Tale of Grief-Misfortune (translator: Nikolai Prokofiev)The Parable of the Old Husband and the Young MaidenVirsha by Simeon of Polotsk