Neschastnyi syn Velikogo Petra ne otnositsia k chislu vydaiushchikhsia deiatelei russkoi istorii. Odnako ego tragicheskaia sudba - on umer, ne vyderzhav pytok, v zastenkakh Petropavlovskoi kreposti - iarko vysvechivaet i kharakter ego ottca, tcaria-preobrazovatelia Petra I, i nravy toi zhestokoi epokhi, v kotoruiu emu dovelos zhit. Zhizn i smert tcarevicha Alekseia Petrovicha stali temoi novoi knigi.