Promotional Information

Winner of the Byron Caldwell Smith Award (USA)

About the Author

John T. Alexander is Professor of History and Soviet and East European Studies at the University of Kansas.

Reviews

"Far outranks the ancient efforts of G.P. Gooch, Zoe Oldenbourg and Gladys Scott Thomson...Good on high-political crises."--History
"A most readable and historically accurate biography of the greatest of the Romanov rulers of Russia."--Frank V. Barchard, East Texas State University
"An extremely well researched, well organized, and judiciously balanced political portrait of Empress Catherine II."--Marc Raeff, Columbia University
"[Alexander] shows his abilities as a storyteller by delving into the psyche of this woman, who lived a life of celebrity, isolation, and loneliness."--The Richmond Times-Dispatch
"Alexander's biography is the best there is and likely to remain so...Factually reliable, informative, lively, and frequently provocative."--Times Literary Supplement
"An intelligent history and an imaginative biography."--Newark Star Ledger
"The best English-language biography of Catherine in some time."--The Dallas Morning News
"Informed, provocative, and, above all, fair...A major achievement. It succeeds in its goal of bridging the gap between popular biographies and scholarly studies."--The Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Alexander's carefully researched political biography at last gives Catherine her due as 'the overburdened ruler of an immense and turbulent Empire.'"--W. Bruce Lincoln, The Chicago Tribune
"Alexander fathoms his subject completely, and he writes a most compelling narrative."--Booklist
"An excellent book that deserves to be regarded as the best biography of Catherine the Great to date."--CHOICE
"A sympathetic and intimate portrait of Catherine."--Carol S. Leonard, The New York Times Book Review
"A work designed for the serious general reader."--International History Review
"[A] readable biography of the Russian Empress that is certainly worthy of purchase for any general library collection...a fascinating melange of essays...[and] a fluid narrative."--Kliatt Young Adult Paperback Guide
"A fine text."--Stevie Hochstadt, Bates College
"[The] best biography of Catherine the Great."--Richard Bidlack, Washington and Lee University
"His extensive research...and intelligent discussion...have earned him a reputation as a leading authority on the history of eighteenth-century Russia."--Edward C. Thaden, Journal of Modern History
"[It's] principal service to the scholar is to trace the chronology of Catherine's reign in unparalleled detail. Only through chronology can one gain a proper sense of the balance of Catherine's concerns at any one time."--Scottish Slavonic Review

"Far outranks the ancient efforts of G.P. Gooch, Zoe Oldenbourg and Gladys Scott Thomson...Good on high-political crises."--History "A most readable and historically accurate biography of the greatest of the Romanov rulers of Russia."--Frank V. Barchard, East Texas State University "An extremely well researched, well organized, and judiciously balanced political portrait of Empress Catherine II."--Marc Raeff, Columbia University "[Alexander] shows his abilities as a storyteller by delving into the psyche of this woman, who lived a life of celebrity, isolation, and loneliness."--The Richmond Times-Dispatch "Alexander's biography is the best there is and likely to remain so...Factually reliable, informative, lively, and frequently provocative."--Times Literary Supplement "An intelligent history and an imaginative biography."--Newark Star Ledger "The best English-language biography of Catherine in some time."--The Dallas Morning News "Informed, provocative, and, above all, fair...A major achievement. It succeeds in its goal of bridging the gap between popular biographies and scholarly studies."--The Cleveland Plain Dealer "Alexander's carefully researched political biography at last gives Catherine her due as 'the overburdened ruler of an immense and turbulent Empire.'"--W. Bruce Lincoln, The Chicago Tribune "Alexander fathoms his subject completely, and he writes a most compelling narrative."--Booklist "An excellent book that deserves to be regarded as the best biography of Catherine the Great to date."--CHOICE "A sympathetic and intimate portrait of Catherine."--Carol S. Leonard, The New York Times Book Review "A work designed for the serious general reader."--International History Review "[A] readable biography of the Russian Empress that is certainly worthy of purchase for any general library collection...a fascinating melange of essays...[and] a fluid narrative."--Kliatt Young Adult Paperback Guide "A fine text."--Stevie Hochstadt, Bates College "[The] best biography of Catherine the Great."--Richard Bidlack, Washington and Lee University "His extensive research...and intelligent discussion...have earned him a reputation as a leading authority on the history of eighteenth-century Russia."--Edward C. Thaden, Journal of Modern History "[It's] principal service to the scholar is to trace the chronology of Catherine's reign in unparalleled detail. Only through chronology can one gain a proper sense of the balance of Catherine's concerns at any one time."--Scottish Slavonic Review