Catherine the Great was a fascinating woman and monarch. In spite of mastering the Russian language, she still spoke with a German accent. Her rise to the monarchy involved a coup against her own husband, Peter 11, a very inept and immature man. Having witnessed the French Revolution and the American Revolution, she lived with one foot in the past and the other in the future. Though she believed the serfs should be freed, she would not challenge the nobles. She was a model for inoculation against smallpox, but still allowed blood letting. Her military battles were many and successful, as she learned from the generals. An excellent rider herself, she inspired confidence in the Russian people. This work of non-fiction showed Catherine as a passionate and sexual woman, who by her own admission could not live a day without love. Her taste in men ran toward those who were much less intelligent and educated than she, and decidedly younger as she aged. She was a cold mother, repeating the behaviour of Elizabeth toward her to her own daughter-in-law. However, she was generous to her lovers, friends, and fellow monarchs.
Her development of art, education, and hospitals was very forward. She did not believe in capital punishment or torture, though it existed in Russia, especially as practised by the military. As well as the focus on Catherine, the author, Massie presents short histories of events in Europe at this time. Catherine was well read concerning the Enlightenment, and kept on a correspondence with many scholars and thinkers, especially Voltaire.
I was glued to my e-reader as Catherine's life unfoled, however, as I perused the referenences it was interesting that the author used no Russian sources, other than a translation of Catherine's own memoirs. Still, I am motivated to read and learn more about Russia's rich history.
