About the book: 2013 / The author presents to the reader the dramatic history of the Oreshek fortress from its foundation by the grandson of Alexander Nevsky, Prince Yuri Danilovich, to the present day. This is the history of a fortress-stronghold, defender of the Fatherland, and the history of a terrible prison that broke and destroyed many lives - from royal prisoners to revolutionaries, the history of the Shlisselburg image of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The author does not just talk about the various periods and stages of the life of the fortress, he actually shows the history Russia through the history of the Shlisselburg fortress, using in its narration many documents: unique archival materials, letters and diary entries... The book of the St. Petersburg writer gives not just the history of the Oreshek fortress, or the Shlisselburg fortress, in different guises: and as a “stronghold of Moscow Rus'” - protectors-citadels from foreign invasions, and as a prison. Rather, this is the history of the country, shown through the Shlisselburg Chronicle, for which the author uses numerous documentary archival materials. As stated in the introduction, “there are not many places in Russia like this, an island blown by the chilly Ladoga winds. Founded by the grandson of Alexander Nevsky, Prince Yuri Danilovich, the Oreshek fortress has a heroic past, and it is understandable why the Swedes sought to take possession of it. Over 90 years of occupation, they translated the name of the fortress into their language - it became Noteburg - and strengthened the citadel, but on October 11, 1702, Russian troops “gnawed” the “Swedish nut”. More details in the chapters “The Nut Becomes a Stone”, “Anna Ioannovna’s Shlisselburg Project”, “The Secret House of Emperor Paul”, “The Shlisselburg Fire”, etc..