The Poet and the Tsar

Tsar Nicholas I is enamoured by Natalia the wife of Alexander Pushkin To cover his tracks the tsar encourages the suit of Georges dAnthès a French officer with the help of Count Alexander von Benckendorff Pushkin hears rumours of DAnthèss love for his wife and challenges him to a duel The officer attempts to save his life by marrying Natalias sister Ekaterina Returning from his country estate Pushkin receives anonymous letters and insists on a duel with DAnthès