Catherine II of Russia is one of the most colorful characters in
modern history. Born a minor German princess, she was betrothed to
the Grand Duke Peter of Russia at 15, through the designs of the
childless Empress Elizabeth and her own scheming mother. By 33, she
had overthrown her husband in a bloodless coup and established
herself as Empress of the multinational Russian Empire, the largest
territorial political unit in modern history.
Portrayed variously as a political genius who restored to Russia
the glory it had known in the days of Peter the Great and a
despotic foreign adventuress who usurped the Russian throne,
murdered her rivals, and tyrannized her subjects, she was, by all
accounts, an extraordinary woman. Catherinethe Great, the first
popular biography of the mpress based on modern scholarship,
provides a vivid portrait of Catherine as a mother, a lover, and,
above all, an extremely savvy ruler. Concentrating on her long
reign (1762-96), John Alexander examines all aspects of Catherine's
life and career: the brilliant political strategies by which she
won the acceptance of a nationalistic elite; her expansive foreign
policy; the domestic reforms with which she revamped the Russian
military, political structure, and economy; and, of course, her
infamous love life.
Alexander begins with an account of the dramatic "palace revolt"
by which Catherine unseated her husband and a background chapter
describing the circumstances of her early childhood and marriage,
then proceeds chronologically through the 34 years of reign. In
compelling narrative fashion, he describes such events as the
incursion of bubonic plague on Moscow, the uprising of the Ural
peasants, and the six political murders the empress sanctioned.
Catherine is presented here in more human terms than in previous
biographies, with numerous quotations included from her
reminiscences and notes. We learn, for instance, not only the names
and number of her lovers, but her understanding of what many
considered a shocking licentiousness. "The trouble is," she wrote,
"that my heart would not willingly remain one hour without
love."
The result of 20 years' research by one of the leading narrative
historians of modern Russia in the U.S., this is truly an
impressive work. Alexander delved into little-known sources
(including a collection of Catherine's love notes which is included
here as an appendix) as well as popular and specialized accounts to
arrive at this much-needed, balanced appraisal of one of history's
most scandal-ridden figures.
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