Jules Verne's Michael Strogoff, or The Courier of the Czar The Complete Two-Volume Collector's Edition In an age when courage was the measure of a man and loyalty the highest of virtues, one name echoed across the frozen vastness of Imperial Russia, Michael Strogoff. Summoned by Czar Alexander II himself, Strogoff undertakes a perilous journey from Moscow to Irkutsk, charged with bearing a message upon which the fate of the Empire depends. Five thousand miles of snow-laden forests, storm-swept plains, and treacherous passes stand between him and his duty. In Book the First, the Courier sets forth upon his hazardous mission, crossing a realm torn by rebellion and deception. He rides beside heroes and spies, facing the vengeful traitor Ivan Ogareff, whose treachery threatens to plunge Russia into chaos. In Book the Second, trial gives way to torment as Strogoff endures captivity, mock execution, and the cruel illusion of blindness, yet his resolve remains unbroken. Guided by valor and devotion, he presses onward to fulfill his sacred charge and confront his enemy amidst the fires of Irkutsk. Here, in this complete two-volume edition, Jules Verne presents a tale of indomitable spirit, imperial intrigue, and the triumph of honor over despair, a timeless chronicle of one man's duty to his sovereign and to his soul.