Catherine the Great

Portrait of a Woman

By: Robert K. Massie

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 23 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2011 Robert K. Massie (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

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

“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)

I now have a better understanding of Russia

This book is my first reading as I try to learn more about Russia and its history

Great Living History

I had an opportunity to visit St. Petersburg, Catherine’s Palace in Pushkin, and the Hermitage this summer. During the trip we heard much about Catherine the Great, including this book recommendation. It did not disappoint. Massie does an excellent job of making 18th Century European history come alive. It is an improbable story: a princess from a small German principality and minor noble family emerges as the Czarina of Russia after the abdication and death of her husband, Peter III. Not only Czarina, but a most hard-working, capable, patriotic, and winsome head of Russia, known for her enlightened views and very able administrative and leadership qualities. For that reason she became known after her death as Catherine "the Great."

The book sets forth Catherine’s story in very personal terms, depicting her ambitions, hopes, loves, sufferings, frustrations, fears, and triumphs. As a story it makes the history and events of the time much more memorable and real, particularly as compared to the chronologies in which history is more typically presented. I found the book very enriching and greatly expanded my understanding of the era and the history of Russia.

Amazing book

Highly educational, very well written and beautifully read story. Very easy to listen to - highly recommend

well written,well narrative

I would recommend this book to any history book or Russafile. Don't pass up this book if you enjoy Russian history or a good biography.

Great read if you like history

I have always been fascinated with Catherine the great.I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to all who like history.

Truly Catherine was Great

Not sure I ever had any real desire to go to Russia, but after reading this book, I am a bit intrigued. Sadly, the monarchy in Russia collapsed (as all Monarchies should), and was replaced by the godless, false religion of socialism - from one subjugation to another. Catherine was not perfect by any means, but she did move Russia in a good direction and offered hope of a better world to follow. Truly, Catherine was Great.

Loved the story and the details - it gave me a new appreciation of Russia.

good read about an even greater woman. l

Little dry but for the most part a good read. lots of cool facts. Give it a read

Good overview

I liked the balanced portrait of this powerful woman. The author did a commendable job of explaining Catherine's motivation and her triumphs and defeats. Overall it was a thorough overview of her life. I would have liked just a bit more on her relationship with Paul.

What a woman!!

A fascinating story—it’s long so won’t be for everyone —but Catherine was remarkable and the fact that women could rule as Queen in her right is all the more unique. You can catch the HBO short series or take a deep dive into the book!

what an incredible woman

I was sad when I was coming to the end of this book, because the way Mark Deakins narrated it made it seem a life too short lived. The detail given to the society and general attitude of Europe in Catherine's time created a rich narrative for one of histories great woman. I highly recommend this book with this narrator.