Saturday 24 April 2004

Russia: Land of the Tsars

This two-part documentary tells the turbulent 1,000-year history of the Russian Empire and its autocratic rulers - and what a dramatic tale it is. The first programme begins with a whirlwind synopsis of the nation's beginnings, before focusing on the aptly named Ivan the Terrible, who united the country when he became Tsar in 1547, only to turn on his own people after the death of his wife rendered him, to all intents and purposes, as mad as a certain monk (who features next week).

Sophie Heath

Review in The Observer

Review in The Times