Peter the Great: His Life and World by Robert K. Massie Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Peter the Great: His Life and World
Book Review: An incredibly riveting journey back in time
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is the best of all worlds in historical writing. It is powerfully written and so incredibly interesting that I found it difficult to put down. Never would I have believed that the story of one man's struggle to bring a country out of the dark ages and carry it almost single-handidly to the world stage as a power to be reckoned with could be so engrossing. Palace intrigue,war,empire building, it's all there and more,written in a style that has you wanting to read faster so you can get to the next page. If you haven't read this book one of life's true reading pleasures awaits you.Book Review: At last a history book that is brilliantly written.
Summary: 5 Stars
As a history student I was used to books that you had to wade through. Unfortunately historians are rarely good writers too. Massie's Peter the Great is a breath of fresh air. It's not only informative and brilliantly written with characters coming to life but also very difficult to put down. I intend to read everything else Mr Massie has written.Book Review: Awesome biography, perfect script for a movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Peter the Great is probably one of the most influential leaders in world history, and is considered by many as the one who modernized Russia. Such a grand personage requires a grand biography, and this book delivers just that.
It tells the life of Peter in chronological order, starting by showing how he was born into one of several families competing for political power in Russia. The book continues with his family's exile from political power, his education in military and political affairs, and his rise to leadership of Russia. The book then covers his trip west to learn from other European nations, and his return home, upon which he set upon a mission to modernize Russia. These efforts included the building of a modern navy, the construction of St. Petersburg, mandatory government service for the aristocracy, and of course, cutting of beards.
The book also describes in detail the military conquests and defeats of Peter the Great, and the political scheming and posturing he led Russia thru vis-a-vis England, France, Austria, Poland, Germany, Turkey and a host of other empires.
The book was quite entertaining to read, and many comical anecdotes are recalled. The book is also easy to read as the author goes out of the way to explain Russian terminology and culture to non-Russian readers. Overall, a great book whether for a history class or pleasure reading. I think it also makes a great script for a movie. I highly recommend it.
Book Review: BEST BOOK I EVER READ!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I majored in Russian History in college, so I've always had an interest in the subject and always intended to find a good book on Peter the Great. This book far exceeded my expectations. Not only is it a fascinating, in-depth portrait of one of the greatest leaders in Russian history - it succeeds on every level as a compelling read, whether you're interested in Russian history or not. Massie is a masterful writer - providing all the context information you need to fully understand the specifics of Peter's life and reign. Every stage of Peter's life is gripping, from the story of how he wrested power from his half-sister Sophia to his military battles against Sweden. (I'm not even interested in military history, but during the war chapters, my heart was pounding as I read his recounting of each battle!) Not only is this the best book on Russian history I've ever read, it's the best book I've ever read! It's a real page-turner, and that's saying something as this book is over 800 pages long!Book Review: Best Biography I've Ever Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read many biographies in my life, but this is by far the best. Part of the reason is that Massie weaves a fantastic story full of details and part of the reason is that the subject matter is so interesting. While this book is long and quite dense, when I finished I couldn't wait to read it again.