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A review by carolpk
Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie
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!