The library of the project “History of the Russian State” is the best monuments of historical literature recommended by Boris Akunin, which reflect the biography of our country, from its very origins. The famous Polish historian Kazimir Waliszewski in his books created a large-scale panorama of the life and customs of Russia in the 17th–19th centuries centuries, showed a fierce struggle for the throne that did not subside over the centuries. One of the most famous books by K. Valishevsky is dedicated to Tsar Ivan the Terrible - a multifaceted and ambiguous personality, still unsolved. Who is he - a reasonable ruler or a cruel madman? A visionary reformer or a suspicious tyrant, obsessed with the thirst for absolute power? Despite the fact that many of the assessments and conclusions of the famous Polish scientist today may seem controversial, “Ivan the Terrible” will certainly be of interest to all lovers of Russian history, primarily due to the huge amount of little-known factual material.