Russia: The Wild East

The Complete BBC Radio 4 Series

By: Martin Sixsmith

Narrated by: Martin Sixsmith

Power struggles have a constant presence in Martin Sixsmith's story of Russia. Collected here in 50 episodes, he chronicles the Mongol hordes invading in the 13th century, through the iron autocratic fists of successive tsars, to the fall of the Soviet Union and Russia's re-emergence as a superpower.

Ivan the Terrible, Catherine the Great, Peter the Great - all left their mark on a nation that pursued expansion to the East, West and South. Many tsars flirted with reform, but the gap between the rulers and the ruled widened until, in 1917, the doomed last tsar, Nicholas II, abdicated. After the whirlwind of the revolution, the Bolsheviks struggled to consolidate their victory. To rescue the economy and save the regime, Lenin made concessions to the people. But after his death, Stalin introduced forced collectivisation and industrialisation, condemning the Soviet people to conditions worse than those experienced under the tsars. Nikita Khrushchev reversed the worst excesses of Stalinism, and in 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev embarked on radical reforms of the communist system - unleashing unforeseen consequences that swept him from power and destroyed the USSR.

Martin Sixsmith brings his first-hand experience of reporting from Russia in the 1980s and 90s to his narrative, witnessing the critical moment when the Soviet Union lost its grip on power. He asks if the recurring patterns of Russian history can help us understand what has happened since 1991, when the promise of Western-style democracy aroused so many hopes for change. Eyewitness accounts, archive recordings and personal testimony enrich his narrative, as well as readings from Russian authors and historians such as Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Vasily Grossman, plus music by Stravinsky, Prokofiev and others.

©2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Awesome and enthralling!

This was very educational, tragic and dramatic. The voice acting combined with documentary facts reinforced an immersive experience.

Yes, it's biased, but

It's an excellent introduction to Russian history. I learned things I never knew both about the start of the nation and it's modern evolution, and I disagree with those who feel it's balanced too much toward the 20th century. Do you really expect the same level of detail about the 12th and as the 20th century? Anyway, Sixsmith obviously knows what he's talking about when he sticks to the facts. His interpretations and spin, that's another thing. Yes, he leans toward the notion that "Asiatic" influences predispose the Russians toward autocracy; yes, he grossly oversimplifies liberalism in the West, as if 12th century Europe or 18th century, for that matter, was a model of modern democracy, freedom, and suffrage. And his language betrays his own ideological commitments. The good guys are always "liberals"; the bad guys, even when they are hardline Communists, are always "conservatives." But none of that changes the fact that this is an informative and entertaining series, and I only wish there was a part 3 to bring us up to date.

An immersive experience of history and culture.

This book blew my already high expectations. Blending contemporary music, poetry and news with a compelling telling of history that ties together a rather broad history.

Better learn Russian history while it exists

They say in Russia "the future is certain, the past is not", so I thought it would be a good idea to learn it before it is mutated and distorted further.
Knowing practically nothing about Russian history, I really enjoyed this audiobook. Perfect narrator, great story telling, nice touch with the music and the short interviews.
This book makes me want to learn more about Russian history.

Master class

Érudite and thoughtful. I did not know I could learn so much outside a university auditorium. The author’s enthusiasm is infectious

Brushed-Over Details, Sudden Increases in Volume

The short recordings of historical events, interviews, reading of excerpts are good. But the content just skims over the surface and skips a lot of details. This is a good surface introduction to Russian history in the past 1000 years, but for a more in-depth look, I'm going to find an actual audio book, not a radio program.

The annoying part is that sometimes the volume would all of a sudden increase a lot, and it's deafening even when it's just on speaker in a large room. This happens when there is background music, or someone's performing a speech, etc. That makes the volume very inconsistent and not a smooth listen like a book would be. I only listen to it when I'm doing chores a bit far away so as to not get ear assaults.

incredible synopsis of Russian history

Sixsmith is a treasure and this production is immensely engrossing. well done! I highly recommended this especially if you want to know about how Ukraine ties into today's Russian outlook

Best Russian history review book!!

best book about Russian history, culture and politics I've ever heard. it really digs deep into the ago old question of "The Russian Question?". for any one trying to understand Russia this is the book and it's well made with sound bites and music interlocked through the entire audiobook.

Riveting history in perfectly-sized chapters

World class, this series! I've studied Russian history in one form or another for much of my life and this presents it more clearly than anything I've read or heard to date. One reason is that it focuses less on minute details and more on the stories, sequences, and common themes. Plus, it does it in a bunch of small, focused segments of about 15 minutes each.

If you're looking for dry, raw facts, look elsewhere. If you're looking for understanding and fascination, start here. Phenomenal.

I learned a Lot

This is a concise history of a big country. It gave me a mental framework to put all of the various bits and pieces of Russian history that I've heard about over my life. The author/narrator seemed to know his stuff having been a reporter in USSR for decades. I didn't mind that it was less an audiobook and more a news documentary with clips of Russian speakers and Russian music.
The translated quotes of Russians spoken with British accents was a little weird, but I suppose if you don't have voice actors that can do good Russian accents that's what you have to do. My American brain , though, kept visualizing the Russians as the cast of Monty Python, and I swear one of them sounded just like Pete Townshend of The Who. This takes you up to the first 10 years or so of Putin's reign. Will have to get another to book to catch up on his more recent shenanigans.