If you love history, you will love this book. Strong and powerful just like Catherine the Great.

Massie has no equal as a biographer and Catherine was a fascinating leader. Great read.

I found this biography of Catherine the Great to be very well written and interesting .. and also very informative! Catherine was a fascinating woman and was very liberal and forward-thinking in her views. I learned quite a bit about Russian history and was able to better understand the implications of her policy on today's country. This is not a typical Book Club pick, since it is history and is very factual; also, as in most non-fiction the writing is grouped into themes, not in a chronological order. Therefore, it is a confusing to follow if you seek a timeline of events. Overall I found it to be a very good read. But, you must be prepared to learn along with obtaining your entertainment!

Well written and thorough depiction of Catherine the Great. Took a bit of time to finish...

Very informative and interesting biography of the greatest woman to ever rule Russia and her many accomplishments.

A well written book about a fascinating woman. Full of intrigue and information about 18th Century Europe, especially Russia. Well worth the effort to plough through the cast of characters. Not my top choice for book club discussion.

A very facinating book which gives great insite into Catherine\\\\\\\'s life. It is a long book, but if you can stick with it, it is really worth it!

An amazing life coupled with an excellent snapshot of the times. The book is well-written and easy to read.

Everyone who read this book was glad they had but many just didn't make it. It is long and READS like a non-fiction book - heavier than it may have had to be. Very interesting.