Catherine the Great

In 1745, Princess Sophie Auguste Friderike of Anhalt-Zerbst married the nephew of Empress Elizabeth of Russia. Seventeen years later, she would be Catherine the Great, absolute ruler of the most powerful emerging empire in Europe and one of the most celebrated monarchs in history. Ruthless, determined, cultured and charismatic, Catherine has been admired for her achievements but also subject to rumors about her personal life. Simon Dixon sets the record straight in this compelling, in-depth portrait. Catherine the Great is the unforgettable story of an autocrat who argued for moderation in government, a nonbeliever who embraced the Orthodox faith, and an empress who was beloved by the Russian people. Simon Dixon is Sir Bernard Pares Professor of Russian History at University College London. He specializes in the history of imperial Russia, with particular focus on the eighteenth century and the Russian Orthodox Church. He is regularly invited to lecture on Russian culture to general audiences around the world and in the United States. ''There is lots new in this superb biography ... [Dixon] manages to be scholarly, refreshing, commonsensical and compelling, vividly portraying the charismatic Empress and her times.'' - Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Sashenka and Young Stalin

Product details

• Authors: Simon Dixon
• Publisher: Ecco Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 14.04.2009
• EAN: 9780060786274
• ISBN: 978-0-06-078627-4
• No. of pages: 448
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 229 mm x 36 mm
• Subjects: BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Historical, HISTORY: Military / World War II, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Political, HISTORY: Women, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Military, HISTORY: EUROPE, POLITICAL SCIENCE: Geopolitics, HISTORY: Europe / General, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Royalty, HISTORY: Europe / Russia & the Former Soviet Union, POLITICAL SCIENCE: World / Russian & Former Soviet Union, HISTORY: Wars & Conflicts / World War II / General, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Memoirs