Catherine the Great

Portrait of a Woman

By: Robert K. Massie

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An “absorbing” (Los Angeles Times) biography of one of the most remarkable, powerful, and captivating women in Russian history—from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and The Romanovs

“[A] compelling portrait not just of a Russian titan, but also of a flesh-and-blood woman.”—Newsweek

ONE OF ESQUIRE’S BEST BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL TIME • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Salon, Vogue, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Providence Journal

Robert K. Massie returns with another masterpiece of narrative biography, the extraordinary story of an obscure German princess who became Catherine the Great. 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.

Critic reviews

“What Catherine the Great offers is a great story in the hands of a master storyteller.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Dense and detailed, enriched by pages of full-color illustrations, Massie’s latest will transport history lovers.”—People

“What a woman, what a world, what a biography.”—USA Today

“[Massie] hasn’t lost his mojo. . . . A consistently nimble and buoyant performance. . . . [Massie] has always been a biographer with the instincts of a novelist. He understands plot—fate—as a function of character, and the narrative perspective he establishes and maintains, a vision tightly aligned with that of his subject, convinces a reader he’s not so much looking at Catherine the Great as he is out of her eyes. . . . Juicy and suspenseful.”—Kathryn Harrison, The New York Times Book Review

“A meticulously, dramatically rendered biography.”—O: The Oprah Magazine

“[A] rich, nuanced examination of Russia’s lone female leader.”—The Daily Beast

“What a woman!”—Elle

“Massie once again delivers a masterful, intimate, and tantalizing portrait of a majestic monarch.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“[A] meticulously detailed work about Catherine and her world. . . . Massie makes Catherine’s story as gripping as that of any novel. His book does full justice to a complex and fascinating woman and to the age in which she lived.”—Historical Novels Review

Truly one of the great rulers in history

beautiful narrated, awesome and engaging. one of the greatest people in history absolutely loved listening to this

How Carherine Became The Great

A dynamic history little realized or appreciated by Americans. This is a vital book that lays the foundation of understanding for modern Russia

Well written and well narrated

Finished it in 4 days. The narrator does an excellent job. Very interesting historical figure. I wish the book were longer.

Highly recommend this book.

Would you listen to Catherine the Great again? Why?

Yes. Interesting information, well presented. Before reading this book I had no idea hat her impact on Russia was. Now I see that she was indeed a great leader no doubt, but also as a real, vulnerable and very human persona.

Engrossing and Fascinating

An excellent and detailed history about the life of one of the greatest women in history. Thoroughly enjoyable. I will listen to this again.