The Czar's Madman

by Jaan kross

The protagonist and the “madman” of the book’s title is Timotheus von Bock (1787-1836), an Estonian nobleman who was once a good friend and confident of Czar Alexander I. He is a real-life figure and defies the world they live in by marrying a peasant woman, Eeva, bringing scandal to his family and to fellow aristocrats. He than denounces the Czar, whose tyrannical behaviour he no longer tolerates. When Timotheus sends a letter to the Czar, explaining to him what is wrong with his rule, he is arrested, declared insane and shut up in a casemate, where he spends the next nine years of his life. Nicolas I, successor of Czar Alexander, releases him from prison, but he is put under house arrest at his estate for the rest of his life.

An afterword explains how much of the book was inspired by real people and true events.

The aspect of a German baron marrying a peasant girl is crucial to the book, as such liaisons cemented a bond between otherwise quite antagonistic parts of Estonian society: the German-speaking wealthy classes and the peasantry. Apart from being a love story, this novel is very much about class: rich and poor and colonialism: the colonised and the colonisers. At the start of the book Timo - as he is most frequently called - has just been released from prison. Older than his years, with greying hair and no teeth, he is the tragic representation of what those in power will do to someone who dares to defy their authority. Eeva, his wife stays loyal to him in all aspects of his fight. Their love is more powerful than anything that can separate them. Jakob Mattik, Timo’s brother-in-law, Eeva’s brother is the narrator in this historical novel written as a journal. He is a man who observes everything around him and analyses. He admires Timo, but his rational mind brings doubt to him as to the alleged madness of Timo.

Jaan Kross, the Estonian author of “The Czar’s Madman” was born in 1920. After his studies he was arrested and spend part of his young life in exile from 1946 to 1955 in Siberia. The book was published in 1978. It comes as no surprise that his main theme is the relationship between the individual and a totalitarian state. Estland’s history - his own story - will never leave him. The Soviet Union occupied Estonia for almost 50 years.Turning this 20th Century conflict into an “innocent” love story about a German noble was a stroke of genius. Kross knew exactly how far he could go with the Soviet authorities and the KGB. He found 8 years of his life spent in exile was enough. 

The members of our group agreed the book was very well written, very interesting, extending our knowledge of the Baltic States and their fight for freedom. We all appreciated the book and found it worthwhile reading and never found it dull. Several amongst us found the 19th Century language beautiful. Others still wondered whether von Bock had been naïve, was a man of principle or an eccentric as to daring to write such a letter to a despote he knew Alexander I was. None of us dared calling him a madman. Bock may well be right in his memorandum, but he also wrecked both his own life and that of those close to  him. The consensus was nevertheless that von Bock was noble in his deeds and Eeva, his wife a strong woman who in spite of everything, stood behind her husband and and his deeds, and so deserved everyone’s respect.

Jacob Mannick, although sometimes pedant, was considered one of the more interesting figures in the story. He spares no effort to try and smuggle Timo and Eeva out of the country. Timo however refuses, as he considers this to be a senseless and a cowardly action. Jakob is opportunistic, but do manage to survive. Notwithstanding his own social difficulties, his marriage to Anna is a rather happy one.

Jaan Kross is a writer of great power and intellectual depth  and like many great writers he gives the reader much to ponder over. This book has remained one of the most popular novels in (post-Soviet) Estonia. It has become a symbol of resistance against a more powerful enemy.

Loeky