“The Great Game” or “War of Shadows”

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                                Through the Looking Glass into the Wonderland 

Sometimes it seems that the history of relations between Great Britain and Russia was created by Lewis Carroll as narrated by Alice, and one of the main characters of this story at its initial stage, the English captain and traveller Richard Chancellor was not inferior in imagery to either Alice or Lewis Carroll, presenting Muscovy, the Russian Tsardom in XVI century, as a “young horse who is not aware of its strength ” and himself as that” little child” who is able to subdue that young and gaining strength Russian horse.

Richard Chancellor was not only convinced that it was enough to find the right tool, smart move and the right bridle to gain control over Russia and rule it. Like all his companions, he was convinced that they had already taken the main step in taking control and subjugating Russia: they impressed greatly Tsar Ivan the Terrible and his entourage with English manners, their knowledge, British goods and exquisite clothes. They
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