Peter the Great, His Life and World
New York : Ballantine Books, 1981.
Format: Book
Description: xii, 909 pages, 10 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 21 cm
PULITZER PRIZE WINNER * An "urgently readable" ( Newsweek ) biography of the captivating tsar who changed Russian history--from the New York Times bestselling author of Nicholas and Alexandra, The Romanovs, and Catherine the Great
"Enthralling . . . as fascinating as any novel and more so than most."-- The New York Times Book Review
Against the monumental canvas of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europe and Russia unfolds the magnificent story of Peter the Great, crowned co-tsar at the age of ten. Robert K. Massie delves deep into his life, chronicling the pivotal events that shaped a boy into a legend--including his "incognito" travels in Europe, his unquenchable curiosity about Western ways, his obsession with the sea and establishment of the stupendous Russian navy, his creation of an unbeatable army, his transformation of Russia, and his relationships with those he loved most: Catherine, the robust yet gentle peasant, his loving mistress, wife, and successor; and Menshikov, the charming, bold, unscrupulous prince who rose to wealth and power through Peter's friendship. Impetuous and stubborn, generous and cruel, tender and unforgiving, a man of enormous energy and complexity, Peter the Great is brought fully to life.
"Enthralling . . . as fascinating as any novel and more so than most."-- The New York Times Book Review
Against the monumental canvas of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europe and Russia unfolds the magnificent story of Peter the Great, crowned co-tsar at the age of ten. Robert K. Massie delves deep into his life, chronicling the pivotal events that shaped a boy into a legend--including his "incognito" travels in Europe, his unquenchable curiosity about Western ways, his obsession with the sea and establishment of the stupendous Russian navy, his creation of an unbeatable army, his transformation of Russia, and his relationships with those he loved most: Catherine, the robust yet gentle peasant, his loving mistress, wife, and successor; and Menshikov, the charming, bold, unscrupulous prince who rose to wealth and power through Peter's friendship. Impetuous and stubborn, generous and cruel, tender and unforgiving, a man of enormous energy and complexity, Peter the Great is brought fully to life.
Contents:
Old Muscovy -- Peter's childhood -- "A maiden of great intelligence" -- The revolt of the Streltsy -- The great schism -- Peter's games -- The regency of Sophia -- Sophia overthrown -- Gordon, Lefort and the jolly company -- Archangel -- Azov -- The great embassy to Western Europe -- "It is impossible to describe him" -- Peter in Holland -- The Prince of Orange -- Peter in England -- Leopold and Augustus -- "These things are in your way" -- Fire and knout -- Among friends -- Voronezh and the southern fleet -- Mistress of the north -- Let the cannon decide -- Charles XII -- Narva -- "We must not lose our heads" -- The founding of St. Petersburg -- Menshikov and Catherine -- The hand of the autocrat -- Polish quagmire -- Charles in Saxony -- The great road to Moscow -- Golovchin and Lesnaya -- Mazeppa -- The worst winter within memory -- The gathering of forces -- Poltava -- Surrender by the river -- The fruits of Poltava -- The sultan's world -- Liberator of the Balkan Christians -- Fifty blows on the Pruth -- The German campaign and Frederick William -- The coast of Finland -- The Kalabalik -- Venice of the north -- An ambassador reports -- The second journey west -- "The king is a mighty man..." -- A visitor in Paris -- The education of an heir -- A paternal ultimatum -- Flight of the Tsarevich -- The future on trial -- Charles' last offensive -- King George enters the Baltic -- Victory -- In the service of the state -- Commerce by decree -- Supreme under God -- The emperor in St. Petersburg -- Along the Caspian -- Twlight -- Epilogue -- Genealogy of the Romanov dynasty, 1613-1917.
Subjects:
Peter I, Emperor of Russia, 1672-1725.
Russia -- History -- Peter I, 1689-1725.
Soviet Union -- Kings and rulers -- Biography.
Peter I, Emperor of Russia, 1672-1725.
Russia -- History -- Peter I, 1689-1725.
Soviet Union -- Kings and rulers -- Biography.
ISBN:
0345298063
Availability | |||
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Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
BIOGRAPHY Peter The Great | Ballentine Indoors | Biography | In |
Originally published: New York : Knopf, 1980.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 863-867) and index.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 863-867) and index.