Description
Empress of the vast Russian Empire by the age of 33, Catherine's private and public life generated tremendous contemporary controversy, and she has subsequently been portrayed variously as a political genius, a despotic foreign adventuress, a tyrant, and a nymphomaniac. Drawing on little-known sources, including Catherine's billets doux , John Alexander has produced a much-needed balanced appraisal and popular biography of one of the most powerful, infamous, and colourful figures in modern history.
Winner of the Byron Caldwell Smith Award (USA)
About the Author
Professor of History at the University of Kansas
Reviews
`Alexander demonstrates that he posesses two important skills which enable him to address a popular readership: the ability to tell a good story well and an understanding of the effective use of descriptive contemporary accounts and interesting detail to enliven the text. An academic readership will also find this study of value' Slavonic Review
'a balanced, comprehensive portrait of the woman whom custom calls "the Great", whom gossip painted as scarlet, but whom Diderot described probably accurately as "the soul of Brutus in the body of "Cleaopatra"' Sunday Times
`Alexander's biography is the best there is and likely to remain so' Times Literary Supplement
`a serious and highly readable work' Times Higher Education Supplement
'this is a serious and highly readable work, which draws on a wealth of published sources, notably Catherine's own voluminous writings' Lindsey Hughes, University of London, THES
'A very well researched book that's also very readable' Scottish Home and Country
'one of the most comprehensive studies of this woman written in modern times ... Well worth buying.' Irish Independent
'an excellent analysis of the historical context in which she cut such a flamboyant figure' Saturday Magazine
'Catherine the Great: Life and Legend 's principal service to the scholar is to trace the chronology of Catherine's reign in unparalleled detail ... a perceptive biography.' Scottish Slavonic Review, No. 17
Awards
Winner of Winner of the Byron Caldwell Smith Award (USA).
Book Information
ISBN 9780195061628
Author John T. Alexander
Format Paperback
Page Count 432
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 661g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 155mm * 30mm
Winner of the Byron Caldwell Smith Award (USA)
About the Author
Professor of History at the University of Kansas
Reviews
`Alexander demonstrates that he posesses two important skills which enable him to address a popular readership: the ability to tell a good story well and an understanding of the effective use of descriptive contemporary accounts and interesting detail to enliven the text. An academic readership will also find this study of value' Slavonic Review
'a balanced, comprehensive portrait of the woman whom custom calls "the Great", whom gossip painted as scarlet, but whom Diderot described probably accurately as "the soul of Brutus in the body of "Cleaopatra"' Sunday Times
`Alexander's biography is the best there is and likely to remain so' Times Literary Supplement
`a serious and highly readable work' Times Higher Education Supplement
'this is a serious and highly readable work, which draws on a wealth of published sources, notably Catherine's own voluminous writings' Lindsey Hughes, University of London, THES
'A very well researched book that's also very readable' Scottish Home and Country
'one of the most comprehensive studies of this woman written in modern times ... Well worth buying.' Irish Independent
'an excellent analysis of the historical context in which she cut such a flamboyant figure' Saturday Magazine
'Catherine the Great: Life and Legend 's principal service to the scholar is to trace the chronology of Catherine's reign in unparalleled detail ... a perceptive biography.' Scottish Slavonic Review, No. 17
Awards
Winner of Winner of the Byron Caldwell Smith Award (USA).
Book Information
ISBN 9780195061628
Author John T. Alexander
Format Paperback
Page Count 432
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 661g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 155mm * 30mm
