Catherine the Great

Archival Summary & Scope

Pulitzer Prize-winner Robert K. Massie (author of *Peter the Great* and *The Romanovs*) presents an "absorbing" (Los Angeles Times) biography of Catherine the Great, Russia's most powerful and captivating empress. Born an obscure German princess, Catherine transformed herself into a formidable ruler through sheer determination. For thirty-four years, she steered Russia's government, foreign policy, and cultural development through domestic rebellions, foreign wars, and the upheaval of the French Revolution. Massie vividly brings to life Catherine's complex world of family, friends, lovers, and enemies, creating a "compelling portrait not just of a Russian titan, but also of a flesh-and-blood woman" (Newsweek). A *New York Times* Bestseller and one of Esquire’s Best Biographies of All Time.