Intimate and revealing, Simon Dixon's new biography examines the lifelong friendships that sustained the empress throughout her personal life, and places her within the context of the royal court: its politics, its flourishing literature, and the very culture that became central to her exercise of absolute power. Determined to endear herself to the Russians, she made religious devotions in which she never believed. Admired for her achievements and satirized for her personal life, Catherine the Great was one. Ruthless when necessary, she charmed everyone she met, joking at private dinner parties in the Hermitage, which she had built for her own use. Buy a cheap copy of Catherine the Great book by Simon Dixon. She promoted radical political ideas and emphasized moderation in government.

Seventeen years later she overthrew her husband to become Catherine the Great, one of the most celebrated monarchs in history, turning eighteenth-century Russia into arguably the largest and most powerful state since the fall of the Roman Empire.Īdmired for her achievements and satirized for her personal life, she wrote the most revealing memoirs by any European ruler. Simon Dixon (Author of Catherine the Great) Discover new books on Goodreads See if your friends have read any of Simon Dixon's books Join Goodreads Simon Dixon’s Followers (14) Simon Dixon Born The United Kingdom Genre History, Biography edit data Simon Dixon is Sir Bernard Pares Professor of Russian History at University College London.

In 1745 a little-known German princess named Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst married the nephew of Empress Elizabeth of Russia.

Catherine the great by simon dixon