Catherine the Great by Simon Dixon
Catherine II was branded both a usurper and an assassin when she seized power from her wretched husband in 1762. Yet she survived the initial succession crisis, and went on to occupy the Russian throne for 34 years. This book presents her portrait against the fascinating background of her court.
'Dixon is impressive at description, building with intricate detail, and the book swarms with terrific characters' -- Duncan Fallowell * Daily Express *
[A] superb biography..scholarly, refreshing, commonsensical and compelling, vividly portraying the charismatic Empress and her times -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * Sunday Telegraph *
Dixon brings his subject to life admirably in this scholarly and sympathetic biography of a remarkable woman -- Maria Fairweather * Mail on Sunday *
"This is a very good book, a highly readable summary of Catherine's life and as accurate as one would expect from an academic historian." -- Virginia Rounding * Daily Telegraph *
'An immensely rich and lively account' -- Janet Hartley * BBC History Magazine *
Illuminating...A fully rounded portrait is precisely what Dixon has fashioned and what makes this such an excellent book. ...What he does, and this most effectively, is bring together in proper balance the many facets of her life as daughter, wife, woman and ruler, and so present Catherine as we have not quite seen her before. -- Douglas Smith * Times Literary Supplement *
This is not the first biography to foreground Catherine the ambitious stateswoman over Catherine the nymphomaniac, but it is one of the most readable and, despite being a serious study, diverting. Dixon's descriptions of the lavish Russian court and the powerful love between his subject and Potemkin, glitter and resonate throughout -- Melissa Katsoulis * Sunday Telegraph, 2009 Recommended Summer Reads *
[A] superb biography..scholarly, refreshing, commonsensical and compelling, vividly portraying the charismatic Empress and her times -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * Sunday Telegraph *
Dixon brings his subject to life admirably in this scholarly and sympathetic biography of a remarkable woman -- Maria Fairweather * Mail on Sunday *
"This is a very good book, a highly readable summary of Catherine's life and as accurate as one would expect from an academic historian." -- Virginia Rounding * Daily Telegraph *
'An immensely rich and lively account' -- Janet Hartley * BBC History Magazine *
Illuminating...A fully rounded portrait is precisely what Dixon has fashioned and what makes this such an excellent book. ...What he does, and this most effectively, is bring together in proper balance the many facets of her life as daughter, wife, woman and ruler, and so present Catherine as we have not quite seen her before. -- Douglas Smith * Times Literary Supplement *
This is not the first biography to foreground Catherine the ambitious stateswoman over Catherine the nymphomaniac, but it is one of the most readable and, despite being a serious study, diverting. Dixon's descriptions of the lavish Russian court and the powerful love between his subject and Potemkin, glitter and resonate throughout -- Melissa Katsoulis * Sunday Telegraph, 2009 Recommended Summer Reads *
Simon Dixon is Professor of Russian History at University College, London and chairman of the Literary Committee for the Russian Booker Prize.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781861977229 |
| ISBN 10 | 1861977220 |
| Title | Catherine the Great |
| Author | Simon Dixon |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Profile Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2009-03-12 |
| Number of pages | 448 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |