Peter the Great by Robert K. Massie Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Peter the Great
Book Review: Peter the Great by Robert Massie
Summary: 5 Stars
Like most people in modern-day America, I knew next to nothing about Peter the Great. The name itself just brought to mind images of a snow-covered Russia, ship battles at sea, and dramatic European politics. After finishing the book, I have as complete a knowledge of him and eighteenth-century Europe as possible. This is historical biography at a mach-5, a massive story of a massive man in a time of incredible power and war. Nearly every aspect of Peter's life was overblown and enormous, from the political intrigues in his youth that brought him to the throne, to the infighting among the Russian military that led to early bloodletting, to the complex relationship with Charles XII of Sweden, to the myriad of alliances between Western and Eastern Europe, to naval defeats ending with the victory at the Battle of Poltava, to his overindulgence in drink and women, and to his final reforms forever changing the monarchy.
This may sound like par for the course for a story of an old-time ruler. Yet what stood Peter apart from other world leaders was his complexity. He had an obsession with the sea, and would work at shipyards alongside the feudal peasant. He shunned notoriety due to his position, and was most comfortable with modest furnishings. However, at times he had a huge temper, and would use the brunt force of his power on those who tried to undermine it. Massie shows his modest and temperamental sides with equal measure, creating a satisfying portrait in its complexity. The writer and the reader end the story not fully acquainted with Peter, but appreciative of his ambiguities. Also worthy of all the praise possible is the portrait of the times; chapter follows chapter of dense political machinations of Emperors and Kings, consorts and Dukes, all vying for territory and alliances in the midst of ever-growing military forces. It is this cacophony that Peter navigates with a confidence and grace that keeps the story moving, making his achievements believable and the book very entertaining. I don't even know how someone can begin to research a subject with as much skill and empathy as Massie, but every chapter is full of life and urgency and a real heart that is so often missing in historical fiction. When Massie writes that Peter does the most unverifiable things, like smile or shake his head in disgust, you somehow believe it. Even though it sort of hits a wall near the end of the book, what you learn up to that point is great history and great theatre. Highest recommendation for armchair historians of any continent.
Book Review: Possibly the best biography I've ever read
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is one of the most well-written, engaging biographies I've ever read. Regardless of whether or not you're interested in Russian history this book will draw you in. It's history that reads like a novel.Book Review: REVIEW OF ROBERT K. MASSIE'S PETER THE GREAT BY JOHN CHUCKMAN
Summary: 4 Stars
Tsar Peter was an extraordinary character, and Robert Massie does an excellent job of examining the complex chemistry of Peter's character.
Peter was a tyrant while at the same time possessing qualities of openness, curiosity, and readiness to learn from others not common in such figures.
His humanistic qualities and considerable intelligence might have made him a candidate as a 17th century version of the enlightened despots - Frederick the Great of Prussia, Joseph II of Austria, and Catherine the Great of Russia - who featured in Europe's 18th century.
But Peter's tyrant temperament rules him out as a candidate. His treatment of the Streltsy - a large corps of traditional elite guards for the tsar - following an attempted revolt was extremely brutal, including an orgy of torture and horrible executions, closely attended by Peter himself.
So too Peter's demands for his many wars, demands on his people for harsh taxation and much manpower, repeated again for his building from scratch, out of lands captured from Sweden's empire, the city of St Petersburg.
The author does a good job of capturing Peter's many eccentricities, his uncontrollable and grotesque movements at times, likely owing to a form of epilepsy, his alcoholism, his fondness for parodying the church in his private gatherings with friends, his deliberate choice of close companions who were not members of the old aristocracy and were themselves sometimes rather odd characters, his bizarre treatment of his first wife, and his explosive temper which many times ended with serious blows on the heads of good friends.
Peter is famous to students of European history for his "great embassy," a long and unusual journey through parts of advanced Europe he undertook in disguise, investigating how things were done in institutions and industries everywhere he went and spending great periods of his time in studying the skill of ship-building, cheerfully taking up carpenter's tools himself to work as an apprentice. His penchant for disguise, while having some justification on security grounds, clearly, in view of some of the details of how he proceeded, was another of Peter's eccentricities.
Peter is rightly regarded as the father of the Russian navy. He studied the skills, established an industry, hired many experts from Europe, and conquered outlets in the south and in the north as outlets to the sea.
Peter's embrace of foreigners created a good deal of suspicion and animosity amongst Russia's traditionalists, suspicion of foreign ways and belief that Russia was close to God in its native customs being a prominent part of the culture at the time, and Peter worked regularly to end it, but it hardly made him popular. For example, he insisted on aristocrats not wearing traditional long robes and shaving and sometimes acted in highly abrupt and disturbing ways, as the time he decided to go around the table at a dinner and cut off the long sleeves of some of the nobles' robes.
Peter was a military leader of considerable talent, spending a huge portion of his reign on wars - the Great Northern War with Sweden lasted twenty years - and he defeated the redoubtable general-monarch, Charles XII of Sweden.
The author has a tremendous subject in Peter, and I think he does justice to him in a book which reads like a good novel.
I have just two small reservations about the author's approach. There are places, especially in the early part of the book, where the author puts quotations into people's mouths that we know perfectly well cannot be actual quotations, although of course they reflect genuine historical content. He does not do this extensively, and it is a stylistic tool used by other biographers, but I am not a fan of it.
Another approach some readers may not like involves the author's way of introducing a significant new subject. Massie leaves the main street behind, as it were, and wanders down interesting side streets, offering background and historical discussions which might be described by some with the slightly pejorative teaching expression "chicken walk." This does not bother me, and indeed I enjoyed his little side trips.
I recommend this book as a fine introduction to the beginnings of modern Russia. It is enjoyable reading, and its subject lived a life about equal to that of half a dozen lesser historical characters.
Book Review: Should be Required Reading
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife had this book on her book shelf and said it was good, so I started reading in the middle and couldn't put this one down. This author does an incredible job of bringing the life of Peter the Great to life. I was really amazed to discover all of the documents that document Peter's life and all of the historical artifacts that still survive in museums. For example, the first boat that he sailed in, the mummified body of Charles of Sweden, the various books and objects that Peter found most important. This should be required reading for everyone, but especially if you are going to St. Petersburg or anywhere in Russia/East Europe. This novel has also reignited my interest in this period of history and the joy of reading in general. The author writes the book on how to write this type of historical non-fiction book. It is exciting book to read. One of the best books I've ever read and I am now trying to read his other works.
One of the many interesting facts: Russia and the USA's ship-building adventure began simultaneously in 1695. Peter married a peasant who later became the one in charge of all of Russia!
Book Review: Superb
Summary: 5 Stars
Rarely is a biography so exciting . . . but then not every subject is as passionate and interesting as Peter. It's a great ride watching Peter build Russia's navy from scratch, staging mock battles anywhere he can fit his ships, and eventually producing the greatest navy in the world (as well as an equally wonderful army). A story of a military genius, and a visionary who built St. Petersburg because of his hatred of Moscow. He was not without his flaws but the way he seems to have to no problem starting from the very bottom and working his way up (as he did in his own army) is very admirable. You won't be dissapointed with this one.