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Review
“An engrossing bio . . . Is it possible Sofia Coppola picked the wrong historical heroine?” ---"Entertainment Weekly "(Grade: A)
“The book is so readable because it brings Catherine alive, and not least in her relations with the men she drew to her side.” ---"Foreign Affairs"
“An attractive account of the reign of a most remarkable woman . . . Strongly recommended.” ---"Library Journal"
“A great thumping triumph of a book.” ---"London"" Telegraph "(UK)
Financial Times, 1/2 April 2006
For a sense of Catherine’s intimate life, this is a great piece of work.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I know more about Catherine the Great now than when I started the book. I know that she was Empress of Russia, that she liked indoor decorating, gardening, art and architecture that she had lots of lovers (but none of the equestrian variety!), that she didn't think much of her husband or her son, and that she was (relatively) liberal as monarch until the French Revolution changed her mind.
I am also told (although not until the last page of the book's Epilogue,) that she improved the lot of many of her subjects, and that she had pushed Russia up the rankings in European states: and this is the problem with this otherwise entertaining and interesting book, a lack of context.
Catherine's domestic and foreign policies, the condition of the vast majority of the Russian people, from serfs to landlords, are almost completely ignored: subsumed in an increasingly irritating catalogue of balls, masques,interior decorating tips (for those with huge palaces) and lists of favourites, lovers and relatives.
Despite the witty correspondence with Voltaire and others, and the fact that Catherine was clearly a high calibre political operator, Virginia Rounding has portrayed in the end, a rather shallow, selfish isolated, monarch, existing exclusively for her own pleasure.
I am also told (although not until the last page of the book's Epilogue,) that she improved the lot of many of her subjects, and that she had pushed Russia up the rankings in European states: and this is the problem with this otherwise entertaining and interesting book, a lack of context.
Catherine's domestic and foreign policies, the condition of the vast majority of the Russian people, from serfs to landlords, are almost completely ignored: subsumed in an increasingly irritating catalogue of balls, masques,interior decorating tips (for those with huge palaces) and lists of favourites, lovers and relatives.
Despite the witty correspondence with Voltaire and others, and the fact that Catherine was clearly a high calibre political operator, Virginia Rounding has portrayed in the end, a rather shallow, selfish isolated, monarch, existing exclusively for her own pleasure.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first book, I've reviewed here and also read, that concerns Catherine the Great, so I have nothing to compare it to. However, saying that, I could not put the book down.
It is a work of magnificence that tells the story of her beginning from having, what I thought, was a self-obsessed mother, to her overthrowing her spouse, Peter, and onwards to her dying days.
If anyone wants to know the story of her life, I would say to read this, as it is written with such accuracy and detail.
Great book! Great read!
It is a work of magnificence that tells the story of her beginning from having, what I thought, was a self-obsessed mother, to her overthrowing her spouse, Peter, and onwards to her dying days.
If anyone wants to know the story of her life, I would say to read this, as it is written with such accuracy and detail.
Great book! Great read!
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Ms. Rounding's book on Catherine the Great highlights her rightful claim to be called 'Great'. Catherine comes across clearly as a great statesperson that combined strong ambition, intelligence, and vision of her Imperial position and place in history. She expected unvarnished and well-argued counsel from her advisors to ensure reasoned decisions of state and consistent with her championing the Age of Enlightenment and the welfare of her peoples.
In addition to these strong 'professional' attributes, Ms. Rounding also shows Catherine's human frailty and deep hunger to love and to be loved.
In the end, Ms. Rounding, has brought to life a remarkable ruler that combined statesmanship at the highest level with an insatiable appetite for serious and petty lovers.
In addition to these strong 'professional' attributes, Ms. Rounding also shows Catherine's human frailty and deep hunger to love and to be loved.
In the end, Ms. Rounding, has brought to life a remarkable ruler that combined statesmanship at the highest level with an insatiable appetite for serious and petty lovers.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Catherine the Great
This is a very good overview of the life of this Empress. The author has managed to make the subject both interesting and informative at the same time. Read more
Published 9 months ago by anny panny
Extracts from printed reviews
Daily Mail (Christopher Hudson)
[Rounding] writes with enviable lucidity, and gives us the most accessible and enjoyable portrait yet of a ruler immeasurably better than the... Read more
[Rounding] writes with enviable lucidity, and gives us the most accessible and enjoyable portrait yet of a ruler immeasurably better than the... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Virginia Rounding
Peace - Perfect Peace.
Twas not bought for moi ! But kept recipient engrossed for endless hours which gave me some respite from them being bored. Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2009 by Mr. C. A. Cheslett
Virtuoso
What a virtuoso Ms Rounding is with her material! Every time court intrigue and politics might have threatened to take over she presents an interesting section on gardening,... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2006 by C. Medlam
Catherine the Great: love sex and power
the title of this book should be "Power and moving" because is a summary of the dates about how Catherine becomes the Tzarine and keeping records of all her moving from the winter... Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2006 by Virgili Gabriella
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