The personality of Stepan Razin has always attracted the attention of many artists, writers, and musicians. Legends have been formed about Stepan Razin, novels and stories have been written, and films have been produced. The book by historian and publicist Andrei Sakharov recreates the atmosphere of the time when Stepan Razin lived and acted, and tells about the first steps in the diplomatic and military fields that were taken by Razin. Based on the latest documentary materials, using surviving folk songs and stories about Stepan Razin, the author shows the extraordinary character of the peasant leader, his organizational talent, courage and bravery, hatred of the oppressors – those qualities that contributed to Razin’s promotion to the leadership of a broad peasant uprising.