Nonfiction
Essays, articles, and posts on culture, history, beliefs, and the many ways people make sense of the world.
Besides his novels, Ivan Obolensky has spent years writing nonfiction that readers describe as both an ongoing education and a quiet pleasure.
Here you’ll find a curated pathway into his essays, blogs, articles, and Substack posts — explorations of culture, history, the social sciences, philosophy, and myth, written in clear, story-rich prose.
Long-form: Substack Writings
For ongoing writings, deep dives, and new explorations, Ivan offers his perspective on culture, history, the social sciences, philosophy, myth, and how people make sense of the world.
Short-form: Blogs
Before Substack, Ivan published a long-running series of blog posts that many readers still return to and share.
Selected Reviews
“Thanks and congratulations to Ivan for these great articles… I not only enjoy them, but I gladly pass them along… I also often present them to my students…”
— Georgette Blanchard
“He can take the most esoteric subject and not only make it interesting – but understandable…”
— Suzanne Houchin
“What sets Ivan’s writing apart from the rest is that he consistently draws abundant details into his work in a gracious way…”
— Rebecca Price
Reviews from our Readers
I didn't just like the book, I loved it! It is a page turner with interesting, clever characters and a story line that draws you in like a rare earth magnet. Ivan's imagery, humor and fleshing out of characters make them come alive in my mind. I loved the twists and turns of the plot lines. It is a fabulous read and left me wanting to know more.
Mary Ann Dorman
Ivan Obolensky has whipped up a storyline in 'Eye of the Moon' that twists and turns the characters in a storm of a journey. We readers are allowed to sit in the eye of that storm quietly peeking into a captivating world few of us have walked through before. In any arena, relationships are the critical factor. The relationship you develop with another individual or group of individuals drives how you exist in this world. Why do you like/respect someone and how does that determine how you interact with them, trust them and are willing to be a part of their world?
Dr. Bruce Newlin
Ivan Obolensky has done it again! His latest book, 'Dark of the Earth', is a real treat, combining humor, great storytelling, mystery and suspense. The author's easy style masterfully transports the reader to the elegant Rhinebeck world and its intriguing characters. The plot never ceases to surprise, keeping the reader glued to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I am very much looking forward to Ivan's next work!
Geert Criel
'Dark of the Earth' is a masterful blend of suspense, elegance, and mystery that grips you from the very first page. Author Ivan Obolensky draws you deeper into his world with each chapter. His descriptions are so well-crafted that you can almost feel the chill in the air and taste the complexity of flavors in each serving and the wines. He transports you to a different world while entangling you in a fascinating mystery. It's a book that keeps you wanting it to never end! Highly recommended!
Maria Candelaria Alvarez
'Shadow of the Son', which I loved, is a great complement and sequel to 'Eye of the Moon', Ivan Obolensky's debut novel. It has most of the same characters, shares the Rhinebeck on the Hudson setting, and resolves some of the key questions that dangled over the reader after reading 'Eye of the Moon'. Key augmentations came in 'Shadow of the Son' from filling in many personal histories and raising the profile of that inimitable couple Stanley, the butler, and Dagmar, the cook.
Richard Hopper
Ivan Obolensky has once again crafted a page-turning masterpiece with his latest book, 'Shadow of the Son' — the sequel to his earlier work, 'Eye of the Moon'. Despite several years since reading the original novel, I found myself quickly re-immersed in the world of twists and turns that Obolensky has created. 'Shadow of the Son' delves into the hidden secrets of lovers, exploring the nuances of human nature and the mistakes that we make. Obolensky's insights on topics such as friendships and forgiveness are both suspenseful and heartfelt.
Jennifer Nguyen
There were so many parts of 'Shadow of the Son' that I truly enjoyed... First of all, what a brilliant title, 'Shadow of the Son'. The use of 'son' implying its homonym 'sun' was clever, making the title memorable, but beyond that, it carried the theme of the story.
Lyn Blair
'Dark of the Earth' is the third novel in the Eye of the Moon series about a remarkable family of American aristocrats and their mysterious estate on the Hudson River. As in the previous two novels, 'Eye of the Moon' and 'Shadow of the Son', the story's setting is an old mansion estate on the upper Hudson known as Rhinebeck. It's a place of tranquil beauty, aristocratic order, and ancient mystery that borders on the supernatural.
Craig Houchin
I enjoyed 'Eye of the Moon' immensely and hope Obolensky intends to give us a sequel. The style reminded me of the Victorian and early 20th century books that I love so much. The description of the setting was so well done, I could really picture that old place in my mind. I like to be able to follow characters as they move around! The characters themselves I found to be totally satisfying, who first appear to be stereotypical and evolve into complex and profound personalities, reacting in unusual though entirely credible ways.
Marcela Dutra
Once again, Ivan Obolensky has managed to grab his audience in the continuing story of 'Eye of the Moon', woven around the characters reunited at Rhinebeck. In this sequel, 'Shadow of the Son', surrounded by the magical culinary gifts of the wonderful Dagmar and the wisdom of Stanley, we explore loyalties, friendship and family ties that test the depths of character of our protagonists. Wonderfully written, it touches on different aspects of human nature in an intuitive manner one can immediately relate to.
Patricia Alireza