Robert Massie's New book on Catherine II the Great

[LisaDavidson]

Just got my book from Amazon 2 days ago - can't wait to read it!!!!

[Archduchess Zelia]

This is going to be exciting, I'm definitely going to order that book because of my recent newfound love for Massie. I've only read a couple of lousy books about Catherine the Great and all three of them were absolutely horrible, so I really hope for something good here.

[TimM]

Sounds interesting.

[blessOTMA]

I'm reading it now...it's a real throwback in history writing style...so happens it's a style I like. Massie has read a great deal  and is now telling the story by narrative...but he does quote extensively from Catherine's own memoirs , which are fasinating ...I'm just where she's married Peter...Excellent read. In contrast, my husband is reading a huge bio of Vincent Van Gogh...that goes into such deep detail of each of his failings and crack ups that by the time Vincent is  starting to  paint, my husband said it's hard to care lol! Massie sticks to the essential

[TimM]

I'm going to keep my eyes open for this one.

[felix]

 I just finished this book, & really enjoyed it. A very fast read. I never really had allot of interest in Catherine or that era, but this book

has changed that.  It's on sale at Amazon now for about $ 19 dollars, so it's a very good deal.

[LisaDavidson]

I must confess to savoring it as a greedy child would hoard candy! It's solid history beautifully told and so I am anxious not to finish it! I'm about half way through but it's classic Massie. Bravo!!

[felix]

 Agree, now it's made me want a book on Elizabeth,lol ! And Peter III, and it will go on.

[blessOTMA]

I totally agree with the last two posts....marvelous

[Zella]

I must confess to savoring it as a greedy child would hoard candy! It's solid history beautifully told and so I am anxious not to finish it! I'm about half way through but it's classic Massie. Bravo!!

this.  100% agree.

[Geniebeanie]

 It is on my wish list  but I am reading another book on the Romanoffs, about Nicholas's sister Olga.

[royaltybuff]

Reading it now. I ordered the e-book. It is very much the caliber of book I'd expect from Robert Massey. I, too, was never that interested in Catherine the Great, but the book has pulled me in.

[blessOTMA]

In his afterword, Massie says about finishing his book on Catherine the Great  exactly what I was thinking as well : "I'll miss her "

[Alixz]

I keep looking at it at my local BJs (they sell at a discount) but I keep thinking - not Catherine and not Massie - not again.

I have several of his books including Dreadnought and I just can't get through some of them.

Maybe someday.

[Alixz]

I just finished the book and I was disappointed that it didn't cover more of her relationship with her son Paul and her grandson Alexander I. It was almost as if they didn't exist at all during various points in her life and then Massie would "back story" them into the chapters.

He seemed to want to cover her lovers and her conversations with the "Enlightenment" writers. Oh, and of course, the Partitioning of Poland which effectively destroyed a country wiping it off the maps.

Looking at the pictures that were included, I would think that Paul was not the son of Peter III, he doesn't resemble Peter in any way and as he grew older he looked more like Saltykov. Nose and all are more like Catherine's lover than her husband.

I have started a second read because I was very interested in her early life and the coverage of her parents and her life in Anhalt-Zerbst and how she came to Russia in the first place was very good.