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
Obolensky shows us a highly entertaining view of high society family dynamics where female characters possess wealth and power, and where secrets of the past are revealed. At times witty, sexy, and immensely unpredictable, this novel will keep you on your toes and turning pages!
Jennifer Nguyen
'Eye of the Moon' has potions, spells, myths, legends, white- and black-tie dinners, rare wines, and especially intrigue, and lots of it. Ivan Obolensky takes you into a world that existed in the US and Europe in the not so distant past. This was a time when everybody of consequence knew each other and vast wealth was concentrated in the hands of a small group of established families who prized discretion, their reputations, and traditions. Nonetheless, they conducted themselves in ways that belied those intentions. Take a ringside seat and watch the action unfold.
Donald Zilkha
This is another beautifully crafted journey back to Rhinebeck, with all of its larger-than-life personalities. I wasn't sure what to expect with this latest book, but I was not disappointed. I always enjoy Dagmar's magical creations, tailored for the circumstances of the day. A dinner there would be a bucket list item. But to be a fly on the wall, courtesy of Ivan's fine writing, satisfied the taste buds. She, and the "ghostly" efficient Stanley, make a formidable team—two of my favorites!
Art Watanabe
'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
It was a real pleasure to reconnect with Percy, Johnny and the other colorful characters of the previous volumes in this new highly entertaining novel, that brings us back into the rarefied circles of high society. After Johnny is severely injured in a car crash, Percy reminisces about some of their childhood and youth's antics, which makes for some delightful, sometimes hilarious, anecdotes.
Hélène Laurendeau
'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
'Eye of the Moon' is an intricate and intimate story of fascinating people; their intellect, their problems, their inner and outer selves.... very nicely detailed with all facets of the individuals revealed.
Kathy Braceland
I have spent over 40 years in leadership positions in organizations and teaching leadership at the university level. It is critical that people understand that relationships are the most critical element that people have to understand if the organization is going to be successful. Likewise, relationships within a family are as critical as relationships in an organization and Ivan Obolensky, in his most recent book, makes that obvious as the personal relationships, laid out, are what make this book thought-provoking.
Bruce Newlin
Ivan Obolensky's novel 'Shadow of the Son' should come with a warning label to let the reader know to not make any other plans once they open the book. I found it completely engaging and didn't want to put it down—so, I didn't. It absorbed me and I was delighted with my adventure page after page. I felt like I was in some secret club by being privy to the private conversations between the characters. My favorite of those were with Johnny and Percy who have such an unbreakable bond between them, they could easily conquer the world together. I thoroughly enjoyed how they would discuss seemingly impossible situations and use their combined wits and resources to figure them out.
Kathy Braceland