Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

From the acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert K. Massie comes an extraordinary biographical masterpiece, "Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman," chronicling the improbable rise of an obscure German princess to become one of history's most formidable and captivating empresses. With unparalleled determination, Catherine seized the Russian throne, ruling for thirty-four transformative years during which she masterfully navigated domestic rebellions, foreign wars, and the turbulent political currents ignited by the French Revolution. Massie vividly brings to life Catherine's complex world, populated by her family, friends, ministers, generals, lovers, and enemies, painting a full-bodied portrait not just of a Russian titan, but of a flesh-and-blood woman. This book offers a rich, suspenseful, and irresistibly told narrative, revealing how Catherine the Great cemented her legacy and left an indelible mark on Russia and the course of European history, making her an eternally fascinating subject returned to life by a master storyteller.