- Hardcover: 512 pages
- Publisher: Aidan Ellis Publishing; illustrated edition edition (27 May 1993)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0856280836
- ISBN-13: 978-0856280832
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14.4 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,253,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Book Description
The Prix Goncourt winning French historian Henri Troyat, renowned author of Tolstoy, Pushkin and other giants of Russian history turns his attention to the liberal, ambitious and totally ruthless Catherine the Great - Empress of All the Russias.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Born a little German princess without a drop of Russian blood in her veins she came to embody Russia and as the country moved from war to war and conquest to conquest it was Catherine who became great. Those who served her throne, or her bed, were well rewarded while the serfs were condemned to ever-worsening conditions. Men were instruments of pleasure. The weak had to perish. The future belonged to men - and sometimes a man could have the outward appearance of a woman. She was proof of that. This literary tour de force paints an enthralling picture of Catherine, her seductions, her coaxings and her phenomenal devotion to politics and work, but it also brings the Russian court - with all its intrigues - brilliantly to life.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was a very enjoyable book. A little long on the many, and I mean many, romantic flings that Catherine had and a little short on the foreign policy issues facing Russia and this time. As a result, the book sometimes teeters on becoming a romance novel or soap opera. However, it is especially strong in covering Catherine's early years, her relationship with Elizabeth and her ascension to power. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in Czarist Russia, dynamic characters such as Catherine, or just good historical novels. Strung together well, holds your attention, and wonderfully written. Good research with an abundance of original letters to draw upon and discuss in context.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that this biography, unlike others I've read, was a page turner as well as an eye-opener. In fact,it was one of the best books I have ever read. Informative to the hilt, it takes the reader through the life of Catherine II from her birth to her death, with excerps from her Memoires and correspondences over the years. It read like some romance novels I've experienced, full of Court intrigue and brimming with affairs. Catherine the Great was truly deserving of her title. I would highly recommend this book to everybody. Even if you don't like biography, I guarantee you won't realize you're reading one.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Catherine the Great was a wonderful read. It masterfully followed the intrigues of court life and all its complexities. One learned a great deal of information regarding Catherine, some through personal letters of her own. Troyat did a remarkable job with this biography. Anyone interested in Russian history, or even someone merely interested in a twisting tale such as one you might find in a work of fiction--Catherine is definitely a go!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Enjoyable Read
Troyat's portrayal of Catherine can, at times, be rather dry. It is of course important not to become too fantastical when writing about Catherine the Great, however, a little more... Read more
Published 12 months ago by PARomanov
Well written !
It is seldom you get a truly History book that is also a joy to read. The man can write so despite the numerous facts you actually get a glimpse of the lady like only a novelist... Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2001 by A. M. Hamelberg
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