Terrible Tsarinas: Five Russian Women in Power [Paperback]

Henri Troyat (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001 | ISBN-10: 1892941546 | ISBN-13: 978-1892941541

Peter the Great was a tough act to follow. Who could possibly take the place of that gigantic reformer, that despotic visionary? He died in 1725, leaving Russia with one foot in the modern world and one foot in obscurity - and entirely caught up in a snarl of conspiracies and betrayals.

In the next 37 years, five women would make history, calling the shots as their nation became a player in the major-league games of Europe. Brains and brass, gluttony and glory. . . these passionate women responded to the challenges - some for better, some for worse.

Henri Troyat paints a dazzling tableau with all the glitter of a St. Petersburg wavering under the competing influences of Prussia and Versailles. In this intimate view of history, we eavesdrop on family quarrels, lovers' trysts and diplomatic conspiracies. Troyat is the perfect author to bring us this real-life fairytale. Born in Moscow in 1911, he experienced Russia's turbulent history himself before making his way to France. In Paris, he achieved extraordinary success as a biographer and lyrical novelist, and was rewarded for his beautiful prose with acceptance into the exclusive Académie Française and with the Prix Goncourt.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Peter the Great (1672-1725) pulled Russia into the Western realm despite the opposition of noblemen, churchmen, and even the ordinary peasant. His untimely demise in 1725 did not allow him to appoint a successor. The next 25 years were consumed by the succession of four women Catherine I, Anna Ivanovna, Anna Leopoldovna, and Elizabeth I (Petrovna) who ruled Russia, making precarious alliances through arranged marriages. Catherine II (the fifth woman in succession) ruled Russia for the next 50 years. Their lives of political and sexual guile set the stage for the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War), the partitions of Poland, and the system of political alliances in 18th-century Europe. Troyat, a member of the Acad?mie Fran?aise and author of dozens of novels and biographies, including Catherine the Great and Tolstoy, employs a highly readable style, and his text proves that skirts didn't impede the movements of these women. This book is an excellent pre-read to S. Sebag Montefiore's recent Prince of Princes: The Life of Potemkin (LJ 10/1/01); Catherine II and Potemkin laid the foundation of modern Russia. Recommended for academic and public libraries. Harry Willems, Southeast Kansas Lib. Syst., Iola
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

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Product Details

• Paperback: 245 pages
• Publisher: Algora Publishing (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892941546
• ISBN-13: 978-1892941541
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent account on a very interesting time, August 7, 2003

By 

Jorge I. Villanueva (Phoenix,Az) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Terrible Tsarinas: Five Russian Women in Power (Paperback)

At first i wasnt that impressed with the title but i ordered anyway because i wanted to learn about the zars of Russia as much as possible.I am glad to say that this book is fantastic.It is well written and well documented.I love the no non-sense approach of the author when telling the story.The way he describes the characters and the intrigues during that difficult time is excellent.He uses his sources very well and he always explains every necessary detail without fancy or difficult terms.I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in how was Russia under the tsars.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where was the editor?, June 2, 2008

By 

c d b (missouri) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Terrible Tsarinas: Five Russian Women in Power (Paperback)

Overall an interesting book. Not terribly in-depth but a nice size for an easy read and it is written in a way that makes you want to keep reading. The problem is that it really needs an editor! Whoever translated it from the French to English made lots of errors. Sometimes there are double words; other times words are missing and then there are times when the syntax is a bit strange. Still it was a good book and I recommend it to anyone who would like to know a bit about each of these ladies who ruled Russia during its glory days.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, June 1, 2010

By 

John C. Navarra (Daytona Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Terrible Tsarinas: Five Russian Women in Power (Paperback)

I have read a few Henri Troyat Russian biographies and they all have been excellent. It was hard to find a biography of the Czarina's. Troyat did a great job of presenting their story.

John Navarra
Daytona Beach, Florida