Peter the Great by Robert K. Massie Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Peter the Great
Book Review: Very enjoyable biography
Summary: 5 Stars
I've just finished reading this book in 2 weeks - mainly when i'm commuting to and from work. There's very little i can add to the positive reviews. This is one biography that reads like an action-packed novel. Here's what i enjoy most about this book:
1. It's written in a very engaging manner. I breezed through all 900pages of the story not wanting to stop. Having read some shorter historical biographies where my interest ran out less than halfway through the book, this really says a lot about this book and its author. Robert Massie had stucked to the facts and yet narrated them in a way that was never boring.
2. You not only learn about Peter the great as a person - warts and all, you also get to know many luminaries of early 18th century Europe. E.g. the warrior-like King Charles XII of Sweden (Peter's archrival of the Great Northern War), William of Orange, King George I just to name a few. The narratives on these person are threaded together as part of Peter's life story and are no less interesting than that about Peter himself.
3. One gets a feel of what life was like in Europe at that time because the author described in detail the various places that Peter lived in, e.g. his beloved St Petersburg, Paris which Peter visited during his second grand tour of Europe, London/Amsterdam which Peter visited in his first grand tour.
After finishing the book you feel that you've learnt a great deal about Peter (the Tsar and person) as well as the stage (Europe from late 1600s to 1720s) on which he performed. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history.
Book Review: Well done
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a well-done work: readable and informative. One note, however: it was published in 1986 during the Soviet era. I wonder how a post-Soviet biography would read now that many of their archives are open to Western historians. Regardless, this work is highly recommended.Book Review: Well written and excellent biography
Summary: 5 Stars
Robert Massie does an excellent job regardless of the subject he writes on. His masterpiece on Peter the Great is a dazzling 700 page ode to Russia's rise. Peter the Great helped to expand the borders in all directions of Russia and built his namesake St. Petersburg. His interest in integrating with Europe and establishing a navy are all well covered in this book. It all focuses on the Great Northern War with Sweden which gives the Russians a coast on the Baltic sea. Everything about this book is well done from the writing, to the research to the organization. I highly recommend it for even those who are casually interested in Russian history. You will not be disappointed by reading this one!Book Review: What a ride!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is definately one for those who enjoy history. Although based on research, it reads more like historical fiction. Massie does a great job of giving enough background without getting bogged down in too much detail which gives the reader a sense of being there. Although it's over 800 pages of reading small print, I was sorry to have this book end.Book Review: Why is there no kindle edition yet?
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this superb book a few years ago. This is one of the books that i read more than twice and which i gladly open every now and then. For this reason, a kindle edition would be great.