I found myself with two books about Catherine the Great and was thrilled to have them because I didn’t know very much (besides the obvious) about her.  I always find it very interesting when different types of books come out on similar subjects.

The first book which is available for purchase now (and flying off the shelf) is Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie.

This narrative biography is up to par with all the Russian histories that this Pulitzer Prize winning author has previously written, Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandraand The Romanovs.

We learn about Princess Sophia Augusta Fredericka of Germany’s not to happy childhood with a mother who never showed much interest in her daughter until the possibility of a marriage between Sophia and Peter, the Grand Duke of Russia, came up.  Sophia had a natural curiosity and constantly questioned her tutors about all subjects and continued this love of learning well into her adult years.

After marrying Peter and becoming Catherine her life did not become much happier.  Her new husband paid little to no attention to her after the marriage and a heir to the throne was slow in coming which Empress Elizabeth blamed Catherine for.  Catherine soon learned that things in life can be worked to her advantage and continued to study especially works of Enlightenment philosophers, foreign policy and the ways of the Russian court.  She used all this when she ‘took’ the Russian throne from Peter to guide her decisions while ruling the backward Russian empire.

You will meet all those who were Catherine’s friends, favorites, family, lovers and of course enemies and who had the most influence over the decisions that turned a minor German princess who rose to become one of the most powerful and captivating women in history.

Also be on the lookout in January 2012 for a wonder historical novel, The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak.  The story is told by Varvara and servant in the Russian court of Empress Elizabeth.  When Princess Sophie arrives at the Russian court Varvara (who is a spy or ‘tongue’) is given the task of befriending the young girl and reporting all she hears to the Empress. The two soon become fast friends and as the years go on Varvara makes the decision to side with the Grand Duchess as she makes her descent to the throne to become as we know her Catherine the Great.

 

 

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