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x0pherl's review against another edition
2.0
This reads like a high school history text. It is a fairly dry presentation of facts, without really choosing any of the many angles it could have taken into this remarkable woman's life (the creator of the "code russe", the feminist angle, the bizarre rumors and innuendo, etc). Maybe the dryness was the angle.
I certainly learned a lot, and occasionally got highly engaged, but overall this book was not as interesting as it could have been, or as I had hoped it would be.
I certainly learned a lot, and occasionally got highly engaged, but overall this book was not as interesting as it could have been, or as I had hoped it would be.
cancermoononhigh's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
2.5
My first book about any Russian Monarch.
Princess Sophie Auguste Friderike became Yetareina Alekseyevna, a name that was chosen for her from her mother in Law, Emperess Elizabeth. She named her after her mother, Catherine I. Along with her new name, came her new title The Grand Duchess.
Peter and Catherine were not a love match, or even friendly. There was years without any heir being produced. When Paul did come along his birth did not bring his parents closer together. Peter continued his affair while Catherine looked elsewhere.
Elizabeth died in December of 1762. All of Russia proclaimed Tsar Peter III, Catherine became his empress. Peter was the first adult male to ascend the Russia throne for more than a century. That mere fact alone caused widespread jubilation.
Catherine took authority over Russia. Peter, her husband, was assassinated soon after taking the throne, his death still a mystery. Any shred of legitimacy she possessed was vested in her son Paul. Catherine's coup was by far the most expensive in eighteenth century Russia. Between July and December of 1762, she paid out1.5 million rubles to buy support at the time. By the following March she had given away 21,423 male peasants since her accession.
She was ahead of her time when it came to medicine. On October 1768 she elected to be inoculated against smallpox. Which was funny considering that she maintained a healthy disrespect for doctors, calling them charlatans.
The relationship between Catherine and her son Paul greatly improved after his illness in 1771. They seemed united by more than mere duty.
Catherine would often boast how much more orderly her own Court had become in comparison to the chaos she endured while she was a grand duchess. The last significant piece of legislation that Catherine presided over was in October 1796 which reevoked the right of individuals to operate private presses which was granted in 1783. Twelve of sixteen closed overnight. Whereas 320 secular books had been published in Russia in 1796, only 212 appeared in the first year of Tsar Paul's reign, the lowest since 1777.
On November 6th 1796 Catherine would take her last breath. The night before her son had a dream of a mysterious unknown force. Catherine was found unconscious the day before and lapsed into a coma which she never woke from.
Catherine was on the throne for 34 years; she was synonymous with Russian rule. Documents about Catherine accounted for four fifths of the historical material that was published in Russian journals. Catherine's own historical works were republished, including some editions of her plays.
"No child is born learned. The parents duty is to give learning to the child."
Princess Sophie Auguste Friderike became Yetareina Alekseyevna, a name that was chosen for her from her mother in Law, Emperess Elizabeth. She named her after her mother, Catherine I. Along with her new name, came her new title The Grand Duchess.
Peter and Catherine were not a love match, or even friendly. There was years without any heir being produced. When Paul did come along his birth did not bring his parents closer together. Peter continued his affair while Catherine looked elsewhere.
Elizabeth died in December of 1762. All of Russia proclaimed Tsar Peter III, Catherine became his empress. Peter was the first adult male to ascend the Russia throne for more than a century. That mere fact alone caused widespread jubilation.
Catherine took authority over Russia. Peter, her husband, was assassinated soon after taking the throne, his death still a mystery. Any shred of legitimacy she possessed was vested in her son Paul. Catherine's coup was by far the most expensive in eighteenth century Russia. Between July and December of 1762, she paid out1.5 million rubles to buy support at the time. By the following March she had given away 21,423 male peasants since her accession.
She was ahead of her time when it came to medicine. On October 1768 she elected to be inoculated against smallpox. Which was funny considering that she maintained a healthy disrespect for doctors, calling them charlatans.
The relationship between Catherine and her son Paul greatly improved after his illness in 1771. They seemed united by more than mere duty.
Catherine would often boast how much more orderly her own Court had become in comparison to the chaos she endured while she was a grand duchess. The last significant piece of legislation that Catherine presided over was in October 1796 which reevoked the right of individuals to operate private presses which was granted in 1783. Twelve of sixteen closed overnight. Whereas 320 secular books had been published in Russia in 1796, only 212 appeared in the first year of Tsar Paul's reign, the lowest since 1777.
On November 6th 1796 Catherine would take her last breath. The night before her son had a dream of a mysterious unknown force. Catherine was found unconscious the day before and lapsed into a coma which she never woke from.
Catherine was on the throne for 34 years; she was synonymous with Russian rule. Documents about Catherine accounted for four fifths of the historical material that was published in Russian journals. Catherine's own historical works were republished, including some editions of her plays.
"No child is born learned. The parents duty is to give learning to the child."
elaineharlington's review
Uncertain if the author had a reason for why he was writing this book other than to show all of the research he has done
hildegard's review against another edition
4.0
Many reviewers are criticizing this biography because it frames Catherine's story quite heavily in the context of her role as Russian Empress. Having read both Catherine's Memoirs and Massie's biography, I have an idea of where these readers are coming from: Massie's bio absolutely reads like a heroine-centered novel. (To be fair, I read both of those books before reading this one, a fact which likely impacted my reading, as Catherine was a fully formed character in my imagination before I started this book.)
All of that said, I think some of the reviews were a bit harsh (One to two stars? Come on. . .the level of research is worth more than that.). I think it is worth recalling that Catherine's fame is directly related to her government; therefore, to divorce her story too much from her work is to distort her story. I found the explanation of how Catherine's government worked -- and who played what role -- fascinating, and I think these details fill in what is missing in a more "strict biography" approach like Massie's. (Massie's book is absolutely worth reading -- I do not condemn him for his approach. But it does leave questions unanswered that Dixon's book by its more contextual approach answers.)
Dixon's work is an enjoyable and highly informative read -- very much worth the commitment that its length requires.
All of that said, I think some of the reviews were a bit harsh (One to two stars? Come on. . .the level of research is worth more than that.). I think it is worth recalling that Catherine's fame is directly related to her government; therefore, to divorce her story too much from her work is to distort her story. I found the explanation of how Catherine's government worked -- and who played what role -- fascinating, and I think these details fill in what is missing in a more "strict biography" approach like Massie's. (Massie's book is absolutely worth reading -- I do not condemn him for his approach. But it does leave questions unanswered that Dixon's book by its more contextual approach answers.)
Dixon's work is an enjoyable and highly informative read -- very much worth the commitment that its length requires.
chyde's review against another edition
4.0
16th book of 2010. Catherine the Great intrigues me to no end. This book is a bit slow at times, but definitely worth reading. I want to read more books about this incredible monarch.
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