Stalin, Episode I: Rebel to Revolutionary

Published: May 3, 2018, 5:08 p.m.

In this episode, which launches our epic series on Stalin, we'll examine the early life of the man who would become the ruthless dictator who ruled over the USSR. He was like so many thousands of other villagers; born into relative poverty, you might have expected him to be forgotten by history. Instead, the unique circumstances of Russia at the time - and the quirks of his personality - led to him becoming a figure that defined a century. We will hunt for clues in his early life as to what would come later, and ask the question: are great historical figures born, or made?