Giles Fletcher, the elder (1546-1611) and the writing of Russia.

In the historiography of early modern exploration, travel and trade, the English 'discovery' of Russia has been sidelined by western European experiences of the Americas, despite its important role in English adventuring activities. This thesis contributes to redressing this imbalance by exploring Elizabethan perceptions of Russia, through an in-depth analysis of the work of Giles Fletcher, the elder (1546-1611). Fletcher was sent as Elizabeth's ambassador to Russia in 1588. On his return he wrote and later published Of the Russe Commonwealth (1591). This was a controversial text on its first publication and had a fascinating afterlife over the next three hundred years.