Death to the Tsar

Tsar Nicholas II's hardline, repressive reign has sent ripples through early 20th-century Russia. Foreign wars and domestic unrest are depleting Russia's resources, resulting in famine and political demonstrations. In 1904, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, Governor General of Moscow and Tsar Nicholas's uncle, looks on, powerless, as a crowd gathers in front of the palace to protest substandard living conditions. By accidentally dropping his white handkerchief, he inadvertently signals the guards to begin firing upon the protestors. The ensuing deaths haunt him, his handkerchief now a symbol of his surrender to the chaos caused by systemic corruption and suspicion. Alexandrovich knows his demise is imminent and slowly detaches from the minutiae of his duties. Meanwhile, revolutionary assassins work behind the scenes to wreak havoc on the weakening imperial system by plotting the grand duke's death. These two story lines tragically intersect, building to an inevitable conclusion. While readers are dropped right into the action without much explanation, they will come to understand both sides of Russia's dark political history. The use of harsh lighting and shadows effectively isolates the characters, heightening emotional tension. Robin includes the stark facades of Moscow in each frame, creating an imposing character out of the city itself.