Description
Against the monumental canvas of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europe and Russia unfolds the magnificent story of Peter the Great, who was crowned at the age of ten.
Robert K. Massie delves deep into the life of this captivating historical figure, 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 the establishment of the stupendous Russian navy, his creation of an unbeatable army, and his relationships with those he loved most: Catherine — his mistress, wife, and successor — and Menshikov, the charming, unscrupulous prince who rose to power through Peter's friendship. Impetuous and stubborn, generous and cruel, and a man of enormous energy and complexity, Peter the Great is brought fully to life.