Description: This book details an unprecedented attempt by the government of Russia's Tsar Nicholas I (1825-1855) to eradicate what was seen as one of the greatest threats to its political security: the religious dissent of the Old Believers. The history of this religious persecution throws new light on the religious and political identity of the autocratic regime.
Review Quotes: "An absolute must for those studying Russian religion, politics and society." -- James M. White (Ural Federal University), European History Quarterly, Vol. 47
"Marsden's book has numerous virtues. Firstly, it is necessary to note the vast amount of archival work conducted by the author and the rigorous use of published sources. Second, Marsden succeeds in placing his relatively narrow theme into a wider context, discussing as he does questions relating to religious toleration, international relations, nation building, and state formation...[T]he material presented in this book will serve as an excellent basis for further research on the history of the Russian Empire's confessional system: no less than this, the author's conceptualization is undoubtedly a wonderful start to fruitful scholarly debate on this subject."--Numen"Scholars of religion and especially dissent in Russia, as well as those focusing on governance and state ideology, will benefit handsomely from reading this well-researched book."--Paul W. Werth, Slavonic and East European Review.