Peter the Great by Robert K. Massie Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Peter the Great
Book Review: An Incredible Biography
Summary: 5 Stars
I can understand why this incredible biography was a Pulitzer Prize recipient. Having read two of Massie's Romanov books, I was familiar with his thoroughness, but the scope of Peter's life story was far greater than I anticipated. Massie addresses every detail of Peter's life, Russian culture, and a myriad of other aspects of the late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century. Massie effectively weaves all of the characters in Peter's circle with the events that shaped his world. This book successfully illustrates the "phenomenal energy" that was Peter, from his military campaigns and his fascination with all things naval to his insatiable curiosity about all things western. Though some of the details about the very long war with Sweden were somewhat tedious, any omission of these exploits would have detracted from the overall big picture. Peter's establishment of St. Petersburg and his exposure to European culture was a major influence in his reign and enabled him to achieve so much. This gave me a better understanding of how isolated and superstitious Russia was prior to Peter's era. His contributions to the changes in Russian government, policies, diplomacy, geography, and society were impactful, though often resisted. Basically, this book is the authority on Peter the Great and I consider this a must-read for anyone interested in Russian history.Book Review: Balantine Books is Stealing!
Summary: 1 Stars
Robert K. Massie's writting is wonderfull, but the quality of the publishing is shamefull. This book is so shodily put together that the pages fall out as you turn the page! I could read the odd numbered pages in the book. But when I turned the page it came out in my hand, so I read the even numbered pages outside of the book. Inspite of the trouble with the book itself, I enjoyed the writting. The story of Peter the Great was well told and I learned things I never knew about the man and his country. I just would like a company with some professionalism to buy the writes to print it and print a copy of Mr. Massie's words that is worth buying. I went to "a major book store" in my area and the copies they had for sale were just as bad. Is a putting a copy of a book on the market that is so poorly crafted it can not stand up to a single reading stealing? It may not meet the criminal definition, but it sure fits the moral one; don't buy this book.Book Review: Best Biography I've ever Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I knew nothing about Peter the Great going into this book but feel as if I lived alongside him in the Russian Empire. Great book.Book Review: Excellent book
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is well written very informative and interesting not a dry read like some history book.This book was so good I have purchased more book that he has written.Book Review: Giant true story of Giant. Best of last five years.
Summary: 5 Stars
A bio that reads like an action novel. A giant of a man (6-6) that builds, loves and fights his whole life. The details of his life and the late 1600's is unbelievable. Hands down the best book, fiction or non fiction, that I have read in years