Peter the Great was a tough act to follow. Who could possibly take the place of that gigantic reformer, that despotic visionary? He died in 1725, leaving Russia with one foot in the modern world and one foot in obscurity - and entirely caught up in a snarl of conspiracies and betrayals.
In the next 37 years, five women would make history, calling the shots as their nation became a player in the major-league games of Europe. Brains and brass, gluttony and glory. . . these passionate women responded to the challenges - some for better, some for worse.
Henri Troyat paints a dazzling tableau with all the glitter of a St. Petersburg wavering under the competing influences of Prussia and Versailles. In this intimate view of history, we eavesdrop on family quarrels, lovers' trysts and diplomatic conspiracies. Troyat is the perfect author to bring us this real-life fairytale. Born in Moscow in 1911, he experienced Russia's turbulent history himself before making his way to France. In Paris, he achieved extraordinary success as a biographer and lyrical novelist, and was rewarded for his beautiful prose with acceptance into the exclusive Académie Française and with the Prix Goncourt.
Author(s): Henri Troyat
Publisher: Algora Publishing
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 245
CONTENTS......Page 9
I CATHERINE SHOWS THE WAY......Page 11
II CATHERINE’S REIGN: A FLASH OF FLAMBOYANCE......Page 22
III MACHINATIONS AROUND THE THRONE......Page 40
IV THE SURPRISE ACCESSION OF ANNA IVANOVNA......Page 70
V THE EXTRAVAGANT ANNA......Page 83
VI ONE ANNA AFTER ANOTHER......Page 107
VII ELIZABETH’S TRIUMPH......Page 135
VIII AN AUTOCRAT AT WORK AND PLAY......Page 156
IX ELIZABETHAN RUSSIA......Page 183
X HER MAJESTY AND THEIR IMPERIAL HIGHNESSES......Page 201
XI ANOTHER CATHERINE!......Page 223
INDEX......Page 249
THE ROMANOV DYNASTY......Page 254
