Great Catherine cover art

Great Catherine

The Life of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia

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Great Catherine

By: Carolly Erickson
Narrated by: Davina Porter
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About this listen

Prize-winning historian and biographer, Carolly Erickson has created an eminently readable biography that recognizes the humanity of Great Catherine—Empress of Russia—with her majesty and immense capability. Dispelling some of the myths surrounding her voracious sexual appetite, the biographer portrays Catherine as a lonely woman far ahead of her time—achieving greatness in an era when women were executed on a husband’s whim.

©1994 Carolly Erickson (P)1995 Recorded Books, LLC Historical Politics & Activism Royalty Russia Women World
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This isn't one of those "serious " scholarly tomes dissecting how Catherine won the throne from her husband, her relationships with her many lovers and the power they wielded or even why she was considered an enlightened despot. But that doesn't mean it's not an entertaining and interesting look at the life of Catherine the Great, from minor German princess to Empress of all the Russias, with enough detail to point you in the direction of the scholarly things and the promise of exploring them in more detail.

PS Loved Davina Porter's performance: clear, undramatic and spoken in what I assume is her natural tone. I'd be happy to hear more books read by her.

Empress Catherine really is the Great

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I'm not usually a fan of biographies but this one was exceptionally good. I think it is far more comprehensible to write a biography in someone who lived in pre-industrial times because you can tell a cohesive story without being completely superficial. Catherine was thus a great choice of topic and the execution of this book was spot on.

Good Biography

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I loved this book so much how some women held power and Reign so well

I Loved it

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