Great Catherine

The Life of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia

By: Carolly Erickson

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Prize-winning historian and biographer, Carolly Erickson has created an eminently readable biography that recognizes the humanity of Great Catherine—Empress of Russia—with her majesty and immense capability. Dispelling some of the myths surrounding her voracious sexual appetite, the biographer portrays Catherine as a lonely woman far ahead of her time—achieving greatness in an era when women were executed on a husband’s whim.

©1994 Carolly Erickson (P)1995 Recorded Books, LLC

What a woman. Sad to reach the end. Well read.

Where does Great Catherine rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the best.

What did you like best about this story?

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book and was disappointed when it ended.That this book was taken from Catherines' actual memoirs was particularly intriguing. The book highlighted her frailties, remarkable strengths and basic needs as a woman needing to be loved by men, her children and her subjects. A grand life in Russian proportions.

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

I thoroughly enjoyed her sympathetic narration.

I write on the susceptible skins of living beings.

“You philosophers are lucky men. You write on paper and paper is patient. Unfortunate Empress that I am, I write on the susceptible skins of living beings.”

I recently watched the “Young Catherine” movie with Julia Ormond and was intrigued to learn more about this enigmatic ruler. She came from a very small country where her father was a military man and her mother a minor noble. She was not beautiful but was definitely intelligent and willful.

The story of her life from nobody to Empress of Russia is interesting and I found it extremely moving. Her early years in Russia were stressful because when she married the Grand Duke Peter, she discovered he was very likely mentally ill and unstable. She knew she would eventually have to make a decision on Peter but for the most part put up with his eccentricities. There were many times in her life she had to defend her actions to the Empress Elizabeth, who must have known that this young woman was the savior of the Russian people.

Catherine was a very sexual person married to an unsexual man. She began taking lovers early on and was always happier with a man at her side. She was a very modern woman.

I enjoyed the life of this very complicated woman. She was at times very reasonable and reassuring to her people and other times very dictatorial and shrill. She tried to institute many laws to help codify the rules but met with various problems from the wealthy class.

I enjoyed this story and look forward to more works from this author.

Great telling of a great life story.

I think the author, Carolly Erickson, wrote an excellent bio of Catherine the Great. The empress had many admirable qualities and her share of royal quirks, but compared to most of those with whom she associated during her long life, she was a paragon of logic and common sense. I appreciated learning about her life in detail. The narrator of this audio book, Davina Porter, was outstanding. Her performance added tremendously to my listening experience. My only disappointment with the book as written was that I would have liked a brief summary of the eventual fate of Catherine's son and heir, as well as the outcomes for many who were significant to Catherine towards the end of her long life. The book ends immediately after Catherine's burial. But that is a small thing and not enough to prevent me from giving the story a 5 star review.

What a fabulous biography!

I am listening to this biography and am on Chapter 31, just after Catherine gains the throne. What a fabulous story of a little girl from Germany who is seriously abused for years by her idiot husband, and paranoid Empress!! Catherine strikes back just before her husband does her in. She butchers him and another rival, either by commission or omission, and rules Russia for thirty years!

Ms Erickson has a clear and reasoned way of presenting her story. Allowing us to get a feel for the people and times. I simply can't stop listening to her words!!

I do have one wee complaint. Her description of Catherine's co-conspirator, Grigory Orlov, is way off, considering his official portraits. Ms Erickson describes him as a caricature of a Russian bear, when his official portrait makes him look just like a regular guy. I think she might have toned down the hairy back description.

But the description of Catherine's rise to power is brilliantly told, and though it probably paints a more glowing picture of her than the reality, it is fun to listen too!! I mean, Catherine informed the public that her murdered husband had died of hemorrhoids, the first, and last, known such cause of death in history. Oooooo she really hated HIM!! And for good reason.

Anyone who thinks women are too weak to govern had better listen to this biography. Wow.

Great book, great story

Wonderfully written book. The story was very well written. Wonderful narration. Highly recommend this book!