Various authors paint the figure of Ivan the Terrible in sharply opposite colors, light or purely black. What was he like, the first Russian Tsar, who doubled the territory of the country, created schools, printing houses, and the first regular troops? The new book of the famous writer-historian Valery Shambarov, “Ivan Vasilyevich - the formidable Tsar of All Rus',” tells about this. She traces the difficult life path of the sovereign, his concerns about the structure of his state, the fight against treason and predation, and battles with external enemies. Slander and falsifications that distorted the real image of the king are being examined. The special value of this work is that it is one of the most complete biographies of Ivan the Terrible. It is written in a lively and accessible language, but in a scientific format; all facts and conclusions are strictly supported by references to sources. Therefore, the book will be useful and interesting both for specialists and for lovers of our glorious history.