John R. Staples is a professor of Russian and Soviet history at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

“There is much that is new in Staples’s retelling of Cornies’s story as he presents a coherent narrative of his life, revisiting his extensive reforms and relations with Russian officials.”

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsAbbreviations1. Introduction2. Land of Opportunity, 1804–18173. A Public Life, 1818–18244. Awakening, 1824–18285. Imposing Order, 1828–18346. Mennonites in the Era of Small Reforms, 1834–18387. "A Useful Man," 1838–18428. The Warkentin Affair, 1841–18429. An Agent of the State, 1842–184710. Conclusion: "Something for the Future," 1847–1848NotesBibliographyIndex

John R. Staples is a professor of Russian and Soviet history at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

“There is much that is new in Staples’s retelling of Cornies’s story as he presents a coherent narrative of his life, revisiting his extensive reforms and relations with Russian officials.”

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsAbbreviations1. Introduction2. Land of Opportunity, 1804–18173. A Public Life, 1818–18244. Awakening, 1824–18285. Imposing Order, 1828–18346. Mennonites in the Era of Small Reforms, 1834–18387. "A Useful Man," 1838–18428. The Warkentin Affair, 1841–18429. An Agent of the State, 1842–184710. Conclusion: "Something for the Future," 1847–1848NotesBibliographyIndex

John R. Staples is a professor of Russian and Soviet history at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

“There is much that is new in Staples’s retelling of Cornies’s story as he presents a coherent narrative of his life, revisiting his extensive reforms and relations with Russian officials.”

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsAbbreviations1. Introduction2. Land of Opportunity, 1804–18173. A Public Life, 1818–18244. Awakening, 1824–18285. Imposing Order, 1828–18346. Mennonites in the Era of Small Reforms, 1834–18387. "A Useful Man," 1838–18428. The Warkentin Affair, 1841–18429. An Agent of the State, 1842–184710. Conclusion: "Something for the Future," 1847–1848NotesBibliographyIndex