The Czar: A tale of the Time of the First Napoleon

"The Czar: A Tale of the Time of the First Napoleon" by Deborah Alcock is a historical fiction novel set in early 19th-century Russia during the Napoleonic Wars and follows Ivan Barrinka, a young boy who learns he is actually of noble birth. The story is set in the village of Nicolofsky, where we witness the everyday lives of surfs and lords, particularly Plato Zoubof who neglects his responsibilities. Ivan lives in the village and experiences the intricacies of class and identity, and has playful exchanges with his peers. He learns of his heritage through interactions with an older, wiser member of the village. The novel depicts the life of Russian serfs, the relationships between nobles, and the overall sentiment of the era. Ivan begins questioning his own identity, especially during a conflict with peers over a girl and he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that takes the young boy from his modest beginnings in a peasant village to grand ideas of nobility.