Serhii Plokhy is the Mykhailo Hrushevsky Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University. His previous publications include Ukraine and Russia: Representations of the Past (2008) and The Origins of the Slavic Nations: Premodern Identities in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus (2006).

'This book succeeds admirably on many levels. It is a fresh and subtle reflection on nations and nationalism, a scrupulously detailed piece of archival investigation, and - not least - a beautifully paced academic 'whodunit?'. Significant scholarship is rarely so engaging.' Simon Franklin, University of Cambridge

• Introduction; Part I. The Mystery: 1. A call for freedom; 2. The Cossack annals; 3. The birth of the myth; Part II. On a Cold Trail: 4. A noble heart; 5. The Cossack prince; 6. The Kyiv manuscript; Part III. Pieces of a Puzzle: 7. A matter of time; 8. Uncovering the motive; 9. How did he do it?; 10. The Cossack treasure; Part IV. Unusual Suspects: 11. People and places; 12. The Cossack aristocrats; 13. The liberated gentry; 14. A history teacher; Part V. A Family Circle: 15. A missing name; 16. Family matters; 17. The rivals; Epilogue; Appendix: Cossack family networks.

Serhii Plokhy is the Mykhailo Hrushevsky Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University. His previous publications include Ukraine and Russia: Representations of the Past (2008) and The Origins of the Slavic Nations: Premodern Identities in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus (2006).

'This book succeeds admirably on many levels. It is a fresh and subtle reflection on nations and nationalism, a scrupulously detailed piece of archival investigation, and - not least - a beautifully paced academic 'whodunit?'. Significant scholarship is rarely so engaging.' Simon Franklin, University of Cambridge

• Introduction; Part I. The Mystery: 1. A call for freedom; 2. The Cossack annals; 3. The birth of the myth; Part II. On a Cold Trail: 4. A noble heart; 5. The Cossack prince; 6. The Kyiv manuscript; Part III. Pieces of a Puzzle: 7. A matter of time; 8. Uncovering the motive; 9. How did he do it?; 10. The Cossack treasure; Part IV. Unusual Suspects: 11. People and places; 12. The Cossack aristocrats; 13. The liberated gentry; 14. A history teacher; Part V. A Family Circle: 15. A missing name; 16. Family matters; 17. The rivals; Epilogue; Appendix: Cossack family networks.