Catherine the Great (Paperback)

by Henri Troyat (Author), Joan Pinkham (Translator) "They were hoping for a son..." (more)
Key Phrases: future fiancée, young court, thousand rubles, Grand Duke, Grand Duchess, Gregory Orlov (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Plume (April 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452011205
• ISBN-13: 978-0452011205
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,149 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #12 in	Books > History > World > Women in History
  #18 in	Books > History > Europe > Eastern Europe
  #34 in	Books > History > Europe > Russia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Catherine the Great- The Empress Bunny!, January 18, 1999

By A Customer

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.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic look at a misunderstood Woman/Ruler, November 7, 2005

By	Robert E. Murena Jr. "tedmurena" (Fairfield, CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Catherine as described by Henri Troyat is a total complexity of virtues. Born into a noble family with little chance of rule she pounces at the opportunity to marry into the Romanov family. Described as more of a marriage of convenience than one of any true affection Catherine marries Peter III but before long had him murdered and took the role of Czarina for herself. While this murder in many ways defined the rule of Catherine it was on her part a calculated effort for the growth of the monarchy and strengthening of the Russian Empire. She further looks over her son Paul as a worthy heir to the throne and only after much reluctance does she allow that him to take rule upon her death. She does much to also ensure that her grandson Alexander is raised properly to take rule of the country and acts more like a mother to him than his actual birth mother. Besides this she is also an ardent follower of the enlightenment (before the French revolution) and imbues a sense of liberalism in her grandsonas she considers the thoughts of the philosophes in her decisions. Troyat also brings up the issue of her many lovers including the upstart Plato Zubov. These lovers did cause a great deal of controversy during her rule but by no means were they and all consuming passion of Catherine's as many believe.

This biography is very well written and serves as a great account of a Ruler who is widely known but very misunderstood. The works upholds the belief that Catherine was an able and strong ruler who did more to build the power of the Romanov dynasty in the 19th century. It is clear that the author did ample research and while he is not totally revisionist he is very apologetic of Catherine as he paints a balanced but overall favorable picture of the Empress. This is a very fine work and is definitely worth reading. After this you may wish to read his follow up "Alexander of Russia"

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, August 28, 2000

By A Customer

This is a skillfully written story of a great Russian Czarina. This biography reads like a novel and keeps the reader's attention to the very end. This is one of the few historic books on Russia written by a non-Russian author that paints an honest and accurate picture of the Russian life and politics of that period. I recommend this book to everyone interested in history, intrigue and romance.