Catherine the Great by Zoe Oldenbourg (Vintage 1968 Color Illustrated Hardcover)

Description

Catherine the Great by Zoe Oldenbourg is a biography of the Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796. It was first published in 1965 and has since become a classic work on Catherine’s life and reign.

Oldenbourg’s biography is based on extensive research, including Catherine’s own correspondence and diaries. She paints a complex and vivid portrait of Catherine, a woman who was both brilliant and ruthless. Oldenbourg shows how Catherine used her intelligence, charm, and political skills to rise to power and become one of the most successful rulers in Russian history.

One of the strengths of Oldenbourg’s biography is its attention to Catherine’s personal life. She writes about Catherine’s many lovers, her illegitimate children, and her close relationships with her advisers. Oldenbourg also explores Catherine’s intellectual interests and her patronage of the arts and sciences.

Another strength of the biography is Oldenbourg’s analysis of Catherine’s political policies. She shows how Catherine sought to modernize Russia and expand its territory. She also discusses Catherine’s relationship with the nobility and her attempts to improve the lives of the Russian people.

Overall, Catherine the Great by Zoe Oldenbourg is a well-written and informative biography of one of the most fascinating women in history. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Russian history or the life of Catherine the Great.