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words_and_magic's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
carolpk's review against another edition
4.0
I wish Robert Massie had written this book before my trip to Russia in 2008. One thing I was looking forward to seeing on that trip was Catherine’s Palace and The Amber Room. Of course, I also visited The Hermitage and between these settings, I did get to see some the incredible art collection that Catherine amassed during her reign. Ah, but there is so much more to this woman.
Robert K. Massie certainly delivers on the subtitle of his book: The Portrait of a Woman particularly in the opening chapters where he gives us background on her journey from Germany to Russia as Empress Elizabeth seeks a wife for Peter III and an heir to the throne. The politics of country and church, the wars between this country and that, are not always easy for me to follow but Massie’s narrative non-fiction make for a comfortable read. I learned just enough to give me a basic understanding of this time in history.
This was a book group choice and I started the discussion by asking if there was anything that surprised each reader about Catherine, if there was something they didn’t know before reading the book. It seemed a given that most of us had not known of Catherine’s many lovers, but other accomplishments were not as well known; her relationships with the Russian Orthodox Church, her agility as a horsewoman, her keen mind and ability to write, and her understanding of what it took to be a leader. I hadn’t realized that she was the first person in Russia to be inoculated for small pox, insisting that it be she rather than one of her court or subjects. I was greatly impressed by this. Her vision to see medicine move forward by supporting doctors and hospitals, her humanity to unwed mothers, and her devotion to the arts were also high on her list of achievements. We all were amazed that Catherine, German, not in line for the crown, a woman, with the turmoil of the times, managed to rule for over 30 years and as a whole was well liked.
We wondered at how it must have been to leave your country, never see your father again, be refused the right to correspond with your family, have your first child virtually pulled out of your arms, habitat the same bed for nine years with a man (boy) who wouldn’t even touch you, have superior intelligence to your husband, balance all the lovers, have few women friends, and still manage to stay on top.
I think if I had it to do over again, I’d read Massie’s Pulitzer Prize winning Peter the Great first as I’d like to understand how Peter’s style of running his country meshed with Catherine’s philosophies. A compelling read!
Robert K. Massie certainly delivers on the subtitle of his book: The Portrait of a Woman particularly in the opening chapters where he gives us background on her journey from Germany to Russia as Empress Elizabeth seeks a wife for Peter III and an heir to the throne. The politics of country and church, the wars between this country and that, are not always easy for me to follow but Massie’s narrative non-fiction make for a comfortable read. I learned just enough to give me a basic understanding of this time in history.
This was a book group choice and I started the discussion by asking if there was anything that surprised each reader about Catherine, if there was something they didn’t know before reading the book. It seemed a given that most of us had not known of Catherine’s many lovers, but other accomplishments were not as well known; her relationships with the Russian Orthodox Church, her agility as a horsewoman, her keen mind and ability to write, and her understanding of what it took to be a leader. I hadn’t realized that she was the first person in Russia to be inoculated for small pox, insisting that it be she rather than one of her court or subjects. I was greatly impressed by this. Her vision to see medicine move forward by supporting doctors and hospitals, her humanity to unwed mothers, and her devotion to the arts were also high on her list of achievements. We all were amazed that Catherine, German, not in line for the crown, a woman, with the turmoil of the times, managed to rule for over 30 years and as a whole was well liked.
We wondered at how it must have been to leave your country, never see your father again, be refused the right to correspond with your family, have your first child virtually pulled out of your arms, habitat the same bed for nine years with a man (boy) who wouldn’t even touch you, have superior intelligence to your husband, balance all the lovers, have few women friends, and still manage to stay on top.
I think if I had it to do over again, I’d read Massie’s Pulitzer Prize winning Peter the Great first as I’d like to understand how Peter’s style of running his country meshed with Catherine’s philosophies. A compelling read!
jb_anderson's review against another edition
2.0
So. Long. So very long...
I loved the first half of this, but by the end I couldn't wait to end it. I was especially thrown off by the details of the French Revolution... Interesting, but kind of off-track.
I loved the first half of this, but by the end I couldn't wait to end it. I was especially thrown off by the details of the French Revolution... Interesting, but kind of off-track.
cahistorygeek's review against another edition
4.0
Well written, though very long, this book was an interesting look into Royalty. I wasn't overly interested in the subject when I began, but it hooked me and kept my interest.
hecman111's review against another edition
3.0
Massie is an excellent storyteller, but perhaps that’s where things go a little sideways—or tangential: there are too many stories. A comprehensive story about Catherine, a fascinating, skilled, and highly appealing leader, frequently becomes a story about other people. Lots of other people. There’s even a chapter on the French Revolution which is surely relevant, but a whole chapter? I’m also curious how Massie gets his insight into Catherine’s most intimate thoughts on love. Even he admits that she stopped keeping notes so there are definitely some liberties taken. But Massie is still an excellent storyteller, so there’s that. If a story is to be told, Catherine’s is definitely one that people need to hear.
shan1212's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed learning about Catherine the Great, but I found the format of the book (thematic essays instead of chronological order) confusing and distracting. I really wish this book were written in chronological order and the reader was trusted to trace the evolution of themes such as her relationship with her son, conflicts with other countries, and personal relationships as they moved through time. Near the end of the book was an essay/chapter on the guillotine, which was only tangentially related to Catherine (she was concerned about the revolution in France and what it could mean for her own crown). Did I really need to know about experiments done on guillotined heads a hundred years after Catherine died? No.
In my mind I was comparing this to Alison Weir's great biography of Elizabeth I and wishing that this biography were done in her style, including her insight into the psychology of her subjects, which I felt lacking here. Catherine was mostly a one-dimensional character as presented in this book. Since this biography has many more reviews than any others of Catherine, I wonder if an excellent biography of this important woman is still to be written.
In my mind I was comparing this to Alison Weir's great biography of Elizabeth I and wishing that this biography were done in her style, including her insight into the psychology of her subjects, which I felt lacking here. Catherine was mostly a one-dimensional character as presented in this book. Since this biography has many more reviews than any others of Catherine, I wonder if an excellent biography of this important woman is still to be written.
ajreader's review against another edition
4.0
Read my full thoughts on this book and hundreds more over at Read.Write.Repeat.
I learned a lot about Catherine and Russia from Massie's work. It was well-written, not too dry, and extremely informative. I definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about Catherine or that era of history.
I learned a lot about Catherine and Russia from Massie's work. It was well-written, not too dry, and extremely informative. I definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about Catherine or that era of history.
ckjaer88's review against another edition
4.0
Great biography, really well-written and shows the different sides of this prominent woman. Normally I'm quite critical about how bios are written; if they seem too familiar with the historic person I can't take them all that seriously. But this one is very matter of fact, and most emotional statements are followed by the actual letters or drafts. Now since I haven't studied the woman, Russias history or any of the other players in her world, I'm taking all the facts on good faith. I'm not going to give it five stars, mainly because I haven't read any other bios of Catherine II, so I don't have any competitors to compar it to.