About this book
Robert K. Massie tells the story of the young German princess who travelled to Russia to marry the heir to the throne, endured a lonely and difficult marriage, and seized power in 1762 to rule as Empress Catherine II for more than three decades.
Massie follows her through court intrigue, her interest in the ideas of the Enlightenment and her correspondence with leading European thinkers, her wars and territorial expansion, and her partnerships with favourites such as Grigory Potemkin. He also examines the limits of her reforms and the great peasant uprising that shook her reign.
What makes the book stand out is its focus on Catherine as a person: intelligent, ambitious, curious and often isolated. Massie writes with the same narrative flair that marks his other Russian histories, so readers who enjoy this should also try Peter the Great, about the ruler whose reforms shaped the Russia she inherited, and Nicholas and Alexandra.
Who it’s for
Great for readers who enjoy royal biography and court drama; long but story-driven and easy to stay with.
Editions vary by publisher and format. Check the retailer’s listing for the edition, translation and format before you buy.