Status
Available
Call number
Publication
St. Martin's Griffin (1995), Paperback, 400 pages
Description
Prize-winning historian and biographer, Carolly Erickson has created an eminently readable biography that recognizes the humanity of Great Catherine-Empress of Russia-with her majesty and immense capability. Dispelling some of the myths surrounding her voracious sexual appetite, the biographer portrays Catherine as a lonely woman far ahead of her time-achieving greatness in an era when women were executed on a husband's whim.
User reviews
LibraryThing member RachelfromSarasota
Erickson’s meticulously researched and delightfully well-written works have made me a huge fan of this Columbia University historian. I absolutely loved this biography of Catherine the Great of Russia, whose startlingly unconventional lifestyle made her one of Russia’s most enlightened and
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progressive rulers. Once again, Erickson’s sympathetic but rigorous inspection of the most intimate details of Catherine’s life makes me feel as though everything I had learned previously about this Empress of All the Russias paled in comparison to the wealth of interesting and informative facets Erickson so deftly presents to her readers. Show Less
LibraryThing member cfk
This book was well done! Clear, concise and easily read it opened a window on a far different time and place.Catherine was a strong woman in a man's world with the wit, wisdom and drive to succeed against all odds. Her early years in the court of Empress Elizabeth were like a tight rope walker's
Chosen by Elizabeth to wed Peter III, she was stuck in a loveless marriage which was never consummated and blamed for the lack of an heir. Encouraged to produce an heir by whatever means, she did so with the 'help' of a courtier. Peter recognized the child as his until later years when he wished to dispose of Catherine.
After years of study and waiting in constant fear of being put aside or murdered, on Elizabeth's death, Catherine was ready to rule in place of her husband who wasted no time in offending and running rough shod over everyone. In spite of being blamed for his death, she went on to a long and successful rule, continuing the work of Peter the Great in bringing Russia to the forefront of Europe.
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without a safety net. Chosen by Elizabeth to wed Peter III, she was stuck in a loveless marriage which was never consummated and blamed for the lack of an heir. Encouraged to produce an heir by whatever means, she did so with the 'help' of a courtier. Peter recognized the child as his until later years when he wished to dispose of Catherine.
After years of study and waiting in constant fear of being put aside or murdered, on Elizabeth's death, Catherine was ready to rule in place of her husband who wasted no time in offending and running rough shod over everyone. In spite of being blamed for his death, she went on to a long and successful rule, continuing the work of Peter the Great in bringing Russia to the forefront of Europe.
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LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Wow. That sums up my reaction to the person Catherine was. Knowing she eventually became Empress and ruled for decades, all through the story of her horrible childhood and worse situation as Peter III’s wife, I longed for her to take revenge. Of course being the judicious, self-possessed and
Not perfect though, and I think Erickson did her best to reveal Catherine’s flaws as well as her strengths, though I think the overall goal was to show a woman who succeeded against a state and a system designed to keep her down and relegate her to failure.
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level-headed person she was, she did no such thing. Not directly anyway. Her wit, success and lasting legacy are revenge enough. Just where are her haughty great-aunt-in-law or vicious husband now in the collective consciousness? Nowhere and nobodies. Catherine was Great and she is remembered. Not perfect though, and I think Erickson did her best to reveal Catherine’s flaws as well as her strengths, though I think the overall goal was to show a woman who succeeded against a state and a system designed to keep her down and relegate her to failure.
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1995
1994
Physical description
400 p.; 9.2 inches
ISBN
0312135033 / 9780312135034