Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

“[A] tale of power, perseverance and passion . . . a great story in the hands of a master storyteller.”—The Wall Street Journal
 
The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and The Romanovs returns   with another masterpiece of narrative biography, the extraordinary   story of an obscure German princess who became one of the most   remarkable, powerful, and captivating women in history. Born into a   minor noble family, Catherine transformed herself into empress of Russia   by sheer determination. For thirty-four years, the government, foreign   policy, cultural development, and welfare of the Russian people were  in  her hands. She dealt with domestic rebellion, foreign wars, and the   tidal wave of political change and violence churned up by the French   Revolution. Catherine’s family, friends, ministers, generals, lovers,   and enemies—all are here, vividly brought to life. History offers few   stories richer than that of Catherine the Great. In this book, an   eternally fascinating woman is returned to life.

“[A] compelling portrait not just of a Russian titan, but also of a flesh-and-blood woman.”—Newsweek
 
“An absorbing, satisfying biography.”—Los Angeles Times

“Juicy and suspenseful.”—The New York Times Book Review
 
“A great life, indeed, and irresistibly told.”—Salon
 
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
The New York Times • The Washington Post • USA Today • The Boston Globe • San Francisco Chronicle • Chicago Tribune • Newsweek/The Daily Beast • Salon • Vogue • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • The Providence Journal • Washington Examiner • South Florida Sun-Sentinel • BookPage • Bookreporter • Publishers Weekly

BONUS: This edition contains a Catherine the Great reader's guide.