The State Counsellor
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Boris Akunin |
| Products | Novel |
The State Counsellor (, corresponding to the 5th civil rank in the Table of Ranks of Imperial Russia) represents the sixth installment in the Erast Fandorin historical detective series authored by Russian writer Boris Akunin. Labeled as a "political detective mystery" (), this novel was originally published in Russia in 2000, with its English version made available in January 2008.
Plot
Taking place in Moscow during the year 1891, the narrative centers on Fandorin's pursuit of a revolutionary figure who, impersonating him, assassinates a general. The investigation becomes more complex due to the involvement of Prince Pozharsky, a fictional descendant of Dmitry Pozharsky, intertwining elements of historical heritage with political conspiracy.
Film Adaptation
The State Counsellor was transformed into a major Russian film in 2005, featuring Oleg Menshikov as Fandorin and Nikita Mikhalkov portraying Prince Pozharsky. Originally released as a two-hour movie for theaters, it was subsequently extended into a three-and-a-half-hour edition for Russian television, ranking among the most costly film projects produced in Russia.