Zofia A. Brzozowska, Mirosław J. Leszka, Nowogród Wielki. Historyczno-kulturowy przewodnik po średniowiecznej republice [Novgorod the Great. A Historical and Cultural Guide to the Medieval Republic], Lodz University Press, Łódź 2019, pp. 266

Abstract

The book Novgorod the Great. A Historical and Cultural Guide to the Medieval Republic by Zofia A. Brzozowska and Mirosław J. Leszka (1963–2024) is the result of a research project carried out between 2017 and 2019. It consists of a foreword, ten chapters, lists of Novgorodian rulers, bishops, and archbishops, and a comprehensive bibliography. The authors explore the history and political structure of the Novgorod Republic, focusing on the monuments of its capital, Novgorod the Great, arranged geographically. Their knowledge of written sources, especially the Novgorod First Chronicle, enabled them to reconstruct even lost or poorly preserved buildings. Field research helped verify historical accounts. The book discusses secular architecture and over forty churches, reflecting the city’s wealth and importance until its annexation by Moscow in 1478 and its devastation by Ivan IV’s troops in 1570. Detailed descriptions include the Kremlin (Detinets), the Market with nine churches, the Sophia Side with twelve churches, and the Market Side with nine. The final chapter presents seven sites from the surrounding area. Though not a traditional guidebook, the publication offers a panoramic view of medieval Novgorod’s architecture. Enhanced with maps, plans, and color photographs, most taken by Mirosław J. Leszka, it provides a valuable contribution to Polish scholarship on Eastern European history.