Great Catherine: The Life of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia
by Carolly Erickson

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Book Reviews of Great Catherine: The Life of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia

Book Review: An Impressive Woman of History
Summary: 4 Stars

Beginning with her life as a princess in a minor German state with its frequent visits to the Prussian Court in Berlin, we are introduced to a highly intelligent girl. The tale of her winter trip to Russia, "on consignment" as it were as a potential bride for the crown prince, makes us feel the incredibly harsh conditions of travel in those days. Though well received in the Court of the Empress Elizabeth, Catherine had to submit to insults which would not be tolerated in a conventional courtship. The Imperial Court, as described, is almost impossible to understand. It seems as if Court was, essentially, an endless party.

Catherine's relationship with her husband, Grand Duke Peter, is pretty well explained. Peter comes across as an uncouth dullard whom Catherine tolerates as much and for as long as necessary. Among other games, Catherine played the role of a soldier in Peter's toy army, standing at attention for hours, while putting up with Peter's flagrant flirtations with other women. Catherine's position remained in jeopardy while rumors of Peter's plan to divorce Catherine swirled throughout court.

For years Catherine's failure to bear an heir left unfulfilled the primary duty for which she was brought to Russia. Peter's apparent disinterest in his wife and alleged infertility led Empress Elizabeth to encourage Catherine to take an extramarital lover, a liaison which led to the birth of the "heir to the Romanov throne." It strikes me as incredible that the dynasty would be saved by transferring it to an heir who carried no Romanov blood. Such was the logic of the Romanov family.

As Empress Elizabeth's health deteriorated, rumors circulated that Catherine would rule, either as the power behind her husband or as his replacement. A coup which overthrew and killed Peter put Catherine firmly on the throne.

Much of the portion of the book dealing with Catherine's reign narrates her degeneration into an absolute nymphomaniac. The series of lovers is hard to comprehend. It always makes me wonder how the upper classes, who at least had the Christian message available to them, could regularly descend into such debauchery. In any event, Catherine's reputation declined along with her morals and her discretion. Her most prominent paramour, who employed his relationship to achieve personal power and privilege, was Potemkin who, even today, gives his name to sham fronts as "Potemkin Villages."

Catherine chose her role models well. Prominent among them were the Russian giant, Peter the Great, and an Earlier Queen, Elizabeth I of England. Like Peter, Catherine tried to modernize Russia through her correspondence with Russeau and other Enlightenment figures. Just as Peter modernized Russia through the importation of Western technology, Catherine cultivated the reputation as the Empress who put Enlightenment thought into practice. Like Elizabeth, Catherine ruled without a consort

During her reign, Catherine was successful in achieving the territorial extension of her empire.

Overall I enjoyed this introduction to this woman who clearly strode mightily across the stage of European statecraft during her era. Through her strength of character and intelligence, Catherine usurped a dynasty and won the heart of an Empire. The story is told in an interesting and informative way. Both Catherine the Great and this book deserve our attention.

Biographies & Memoirs Books

• History