The Memoirs of Catherine the Great - (Modern Library Classics) (Paperback)

The Memoirs of Catherine the Great is a definitive new translation from the French, scrupulously faithful to her words and consulting original manuscripts written in Catherine's own hand.

This unparalleled window into eighteenth-century Russia and the mind of an absolute ruler provides insight, humor, and candor as Catherine presents her eyewitness account of history, from her whirlwind entry into the Russian court at age fourteen to her unhappy marriage, affairs, and political maneuvering that enabled her to seize the throne.

Fluent in French, Russian, and German, Catherine published political theory, journalism, comedies, operas, and history while writing thousands of letters as she corresponded with Voltaire and other public figures.

This indispensable work for anyone interested in Catherine the Great, Russian history, or the eighteenth century is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the mind of an absolute ruler and the intricate political landscape of 18th-century Europe.