Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

    • 4.2 • 769 Ratings
    • $14.99
    • $14.99

Publisher Description

“[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 • VogueSt. Louis Post-Dispatch • The Providence Journal • Washington Examiner • South Florida Sun-Sentinel • BookPage • Bookreporter • Publishers Weekly

BONUS: This edition contains a Catherine the Great reader's guide.

GENRE
Biographies & Memoirs
RELEASED
2011
November 8
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
656
Pages
PUBLISHER
Random House Publishing Group
SELLER
Penguin Random House LLC
SIZE
19
MB

Customer Reviews

Yoga-Chick ,

Good

I am 1/3 of the way and I like it. I'll give it 4 stars and maybe if the other 2/3 are good...

Anton RC ,

Fascinating life

The legends and myths surrounding Catherine the Great has become synonymous with her name. It is refreshing to read a biography that is not only factually accurate, but also quite entertaining. Sometimes life is stranger than fiction.

Truly one of notable books of the year.

Jacci the Reader ,

Catherine the Great

This was an outstanding historical work of non-fiction that reads like a salacious novel. After a slow start, I found it difficult to put down. The research was evident and put the sequence of events within the context of other issues, culture and action of the day. Use of language served to expand the vocabulary. Proves that history can be more exciting fiction and left me poised to read of the historical novels by this author. Overall, a great read.

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More Books by Robert K. Massie

Nicholas and Alexandra Nicholas and Alexandra
2000
Peter the Great: His Life and World Peter the Great: His Life and World
1980
Dreadnought Dreadnought
1991
Castles of Steel Castles of Steel
2003
The Romanovs: The Final Chapter The Romanovs: The Final Chapter
1995
Catarina, a grande Catarina, a grande
2012

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