Jaan Kross's novel "Between Three plagues" is published

1970

Novel "Between Three Plagues", published in 1970-80, can be considered to be one of the best and comprehensive Estonian historical novel. Jaan Kross depicts the life of the ignoble Balthasar Russow, a chronicler of Estonian lineage, his fights with himself and others, in order to rise to the elite circle of Tallinn. Kross also paints a believable and engaging picture of the life of the XVI century Tallinn, that surrounded Russow. Naturally, the novel cannot be considered to represent historical truth, as it is even unsure if Russow was an Estonian - a central theme of the novel. Jaan Kross has knowingly and deliberately changed other historical facts, for example he has placed Russow to witness the uprising of the peasantry in 1560. In reality, Russow was studying in Germany at that time. In order to achieve a dramatic effect, Russow's death has been lengthened, so it lasts for several days. Nonetheless, Kross's depiction of the chronicler is widely used, thus belief of him begin an Estonian is also widespread. This created arguments between the historians and the author in 1980s and 1990s, which could not lead anywhere, as first ones based their opinion on the historical truth and sources, the latter on his writer's intuition.

A film named "Between Three Plagues" is based on the second volume of Kross's novel. Balthasar Russow was played by Gerog Ots.