Synopses & Reviews
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of
Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and
The Romanovs returns with another masterpiece of narrative biography, the extraordinary story of an obscure German princess who became one of the most remarkable, powerful, and captivating women in history. Born into a minor noble family, Catherine transformed herself into empress of Russia by sheer determination. For thirty-four years, the government, foreign policy, cultural development, and welfare of the Russian people were in her hands. She dealt with domestic rebellion, foreign wars, and the tidal wave of political change and violence churned up by the French Revolution. Catherine’s family, friends, ministers, generals, lovers, and enemies — all are here, vividly brought to life. History offers few stories richer than that of Catherine the Great. In this book, an eternally fascinating woman is returned to life.
Named one of the best books of the year by:
The New York Times • The Washington Post • USA Today • The Boston Globe • San Francisco Chronicle • Chicago Tribune • Newsweek/The Daily Beast • Salon • Vogue • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • The Providence Journal • Washington Examiner • South Florida Sun-Sentinel • BookPage • Bookreporter • Publishers Weekly
Review
"[A] tale of power, perseverance and passion...a great story in the hands of a master storyteller." The Wall Street Journal
Review
"[A] compelling portrait not just of a Russian titan, but also of a flesh-and-blood woman." Newsweek
Review
"An absorbing, satisfying biography." Los Angeles Times
Review
"Juicy and suspenseful." The New York Times Book Review
Review
"A great life, indeed, and irresistibly told." Salon
Review
"Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman has it all: jealous mothers, indulgent eccentrics, greedy social climbers, intrigue, infidelity, murder, political coups, sex, war and passion." Bookreporter
Review
"Exhaustively researched and dramatically narrated." The Boston Globe
Review
"[Robert K. Massie] brings great authority to this sweeping account of Catherine and her times...a compelling read." The Washington Post
Review
"Meticulously, dramatically rendered." O: The Oprah Magazine
Review
"Reads like an epic Russian novel." San Antonio Express-News
Review
"Will transport history lovers." People
Review
"Massie makes Catherine's story dramatic and immediate." The Kansas City Star
Review
"Graceful and engrossing." Minneapolis Star Tribune
Review
"A biography as captivating as its subject." MacLean's
Synopsis
" A] tale of power, perseverance and passion . . . a great story in the hands of a master storyteller."--The Wall Street Journal
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and The Romanovs returns with another masterpiece of narrative biography, the extraordinary story of an obscure German princess who became one of the most remarkable, powerful, and captivating women in history. Born into a minor noble family, Catherine transformed herself into empress of Russia by sheer determination. For thirty-four years, the government, foreign policy, cultural development, and welfare of the Russian people were in her hands. She dealt with domestic rebellion, foreign wars, and the tidal wave of political change and violence churned up by the French Revolution. Catherine's family, friends, ministers, generals, lovers, and enemies--all are here, vividly brought to life. History offers few stories richer than that of Catherine the Great. In this book, an eternally fascinating woman is returned to life.
" A] compelling portrait not just of a Russian titan, but also of a flesh-and-blood woman."--Newsweek
"An absorbing, satisfying biography."--Los Angeles Times
"Juicy and suspenseful."--The New York Times Book Review
"A great life, indeed, and irresistibly told."--Salon
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
The New York Times - The Washington Post - USA Today - The Boston Globe - San Francisco Chronicle - Chicago Tribune - Newsweek/The Daily Beast - Salon - Vogue - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - The Providence Journal - Washington Examiner - South Florida Sun-Sentinel - BookPage - Bookreporter - Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - An "absorbing" (Los Angeles Times) biography of one of the most remarkable, powerful, and captivating women in Russian history--from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and The Romanovs " A] compelling portrait not just of a Russian titan, but also of a flesh-and-blood woman."--Newsweek
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times - The Washington Post - USA Today - The Boston Globe - San Francisco Chronicle - Chicago Tribune - Salon - Vogue - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - The Providence Journal
Robert K. Massie returns with another masterpiece of narrative biography, the extraordinary story of an obscure German princess who became Catherine the Great. Born into a minor noble family, Catherine transformed herself into empress of Russia by sheer determination. For thirty-four years, the government, foreign policy, cultural development, and welfare of the Russian people were in her hands. She dealt with domestic rebellion, foreign wars, and the tidal wave of political change and violence churned up by the French Revolution. Catherine's family, friends, ministers, generals, lovers, and enemies--all are here, vividly brought to life. History offers few stories richer than that of Catherine the Great. In this book, an eternally fascinating woman is returned to life.
About the Author
Robert K. Massie was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and studied American history at Yale and European history at Oxford, which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar. He was president of the Authors Guild from 1987 to 1991. His previous books include Nicholas and Alexandra, Peter the Great: His Life and World (for which he won a Pulitzer Prize for biography), The Romanovs: The Final Chapter, Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War, and Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea.