Catherine the great

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The Pulitzer Prize'winning author of Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and The Romanovs returns with another masterpiece of narrative biography, the extraordinary story of an obscure young German princess who traveled to Russia at fourteen and rose to become one of the most remarkable, powerful, and captivating women in history.

Born into a minor noble family, Catherine transformed herself into Empress of Russia by sheer determination. Possessing a brilliant mind and an insatiable curiosity as a young woman, she devoured the works of Enlightenment philosophers and, when she reached the throne, attempted to use their principles to guide her rule of the vast and backward Russian empire. She knew or corresponded with the preeminent historical figures of her time: Voltaire, Diderot, Frederick the Great, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Marie Antoinette, and, surprisingly, the American naval hero, John Paul Jones.

Reaching the throne fired by Enlightenment philosophy and determined to become the embodiment of the 'benevolent despot' idealized by Montesquieu, she found herself always contending with the deeply ingrained realities of Russian life, including serfdom. She persevered, and for thirty-four years the government, foreign policy, cultural development, and welfare of the Russian people were in her hands. She dealt with domestic rebellion, foreign wars, and the tidal wave of political change and violence churned up by the French Revolution that swept across Europe. Her reputation depended entirely on the perspective of the speaker. She was praised by Voltaire as the equal of the greatest of classical philosophers; she was condemned by her enemies, mostly foreign, as 'the Messalina of the north."

Catherine's family, friends, ministers, generals, lovers, and enemies'all are here, vividly described. These included her ambitious, perpetually scheming mother; her weak, bullying husband, Peter (who left her lying untouched beside him for nine years after their marriage); her unhappy son and heir, Paul; her beloved grandchildren; and her 'favorites''the parade of young men from whom she sought companionship and the recapture of youth as well as sex. Here, too, is the giant figure of Gregory Potemkin, her most significant lover and possible husband, with whom she shared a passionate correspondence of love and separation, followed by seventeen years of unparalleled mutual achievement.

The story is superbly told. All the special qualities that Robert K. Massie brought to Nicholas and Alexandra and Peter the Great are present here: historical accuracy, depth of understanding, felicity of style, mastery of detail, ability to shatter myth, and a rare genius for finding and expressing the human drama in extraordinary lives.

History offers few stories richer in drama than that of Catherine the Great. In this book, this eternally fascinating woman is returned to life.

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Catherine the Great

Rating: 4 / 5 | Prijs: € 26.95

The pulitzer prize winning biographer of peter the great presents a reconstruction of the 18th century empress s life that includes coverage of such topics as her efforts to engage russia in the cultural life of europe her creation of the hermitage and her numerous scandal free romantic affairs Uiterlijk 28 januari in huis .. MEER INFO

Catherine the Great

Rating: 0 / 5 | Prijs: € 12.26

The extraordinary story of an obscure german princess who became one of the most powerful women in history the fascinating true story behind hbo s catherine the great starring dame helen mirren as catherine the great born into a minor noble family catherine transformed herself into empress of rus Voor 23:59 uur besteld, dinsdag in huis .. MEER INFO

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

Rating: 0 / 5 | Prijs: € 8.99

a tale of power perseverance and passion a great story in the hands of a master storyteller the wall street journal the pulitzer prize winning author of peter the great nicholas and alexandra and the romanovs returns with another masterpiece of narrative biography the extraord Direct beschikbaar .. MEER INFO

Taal: en

Bindwijze: Hardcover

Oorspronkelijke releasedatum: 08 november 2011

Aantal pagina's: 656

Illustraties: Nee

Hoofdauteur: Robert K. Massie

Tweede Auteur: Robert K.

Hoofduitgeverij: Random House Us Various

Extra groot lettertype: Nee

Product breedte: 169 mm

Product hoogte: 45 mm

Product lengte: 243 mm

Studieboek: Ja

Verpakking breedte: 169 mm

Verpakking hoogte: 45 mm

Verpakking lengte: 243 mm

Verpakkingsgewicht: 1090 g

EAN: 9780679456728

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