Russia In Five Babushka Dolls

Episodes

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01Ayn Rand20171011

The Russian doll, that iconic, and rather kitsch, piece of classic folk art, expresses a profound vision of Russian life. The political ones, offering a sly joke about the continuity of a country that also prides itself on revolutionary change, are almost all men, yet women have played their part in Russian history too.

Revealing the third Babushka doll in the series, Vanora Bennett looks at the life and work of a writer born in Russia but whose influence is most evident in her adopted home of the USA, Ayn Rand.

Producer Mark Rickards.

The Russian-born writer whose influence is most evident in her adopted home of the USA.

Vanora Bennett looks at five influential women in Russia's history.

01Catherine the Great20171009

The Russian doll, that iconic, and rather kitsch, piece of classic folk art, expresses a profound vision of Russian life. The political ones, offering a sly joke about the continuity of a country that also prides itself on revolutionary change, are almost all men, yet women have played their part in Russian history too.

Vanora Bennett chooses five influential women in Russia's history, starting with one of the greatest and longest-lasting rulers of the European Enlightenment who is remembered as reigning Russia in its golden age: Catherine the Great.

Producer Mark Rickards.

Vanora Bennett looks at one of the longest-lasting rulers of the European Enlightenment.

Vanora Bennett looks at five influential women in Russia's history.

01Nadezhda Alliluyeva20171010

The Russian doll, that iconic, and rather kitsch, piece of classic folk art, expresses a profound vision of Russian life. The political ones, offering a sly joke about the continuity of a country that also prides itself on revolutionary change, are almost all men, yet women have played their part in Russian history too.

In the second in the series, Vanora Bennett profiles the life of Stalin's wife Nadezhda Alliluyeva, born in 1901 to provincial revolutionaries in the Tsarist Russian south.

Producer Mark Rickards.

Vanora Bennett profiles Stalin's wife, born in 1901 in the Tsarist Russian south.

Vanora Bennett looks at five influential women in Russia's history.

01Pussy Riot20171013

The Russian doll, that iconic, and rather kitsch, piece of classic folk art, expresses a profound vision of Russian life. The political ones, offering a sly joke about the continuity of a country that also prides itself on revolutionary change, are almost all men, yet women have played their part in Russian history too.

Vanora Bennett's final Babushka doll is revealed to be a member of the activist group known as Pussy Riot.

Producer Mark Rickards.

Vanora Bennett's final Babushka doll is a member of activist group Pussy Riot.

Vanora Bennett looks at five influential women in Russia's history.

01Valentina Tereshkova20171012

The Russian doll, that iconic, and rather kitsch, piece of classic folk art, expresses a profound vision of Russian life. The political ones, offering a sly joke about the continuity of a country that also prides itself on revolutionary change, are almost all men, yet women have played their part in Russian history too.

As she finds her fourth doll, Vanora Bennett looks at the achievements of Valentina Tereshkova, who in 1963 became the first woman in space.

Producer Mark Rickards.

Vanora Bennett on Valentina Tereshkova, who in 1963 became the first woman in space.

Vanora Bennett looks at five influential women in Russia's history.