Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Peter the Great: His Life and World

4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 · rating details · 3,411 ratings · 290 reviews

Against the monumental canvas of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europe and Russia unfolds the magnificent story of Peter the Great, crowned co-tsar at the age of ten. The acclaimed author of Catherine the Great, 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...more

Hardcover, 1136 pages

Published September 18th 2012 by Modern Library (first published 1980)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Sep 28, 2012 Erik Graff rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Erik by: John Elkin

Shelves: biography

Having panned Massie's first book, Nicholas and Alexandria (1967), I have to congratulate him on this one, written thirteen years later: Peter the Great. However, I don't know as much about the period of Peter's life (1672-1725) as I did about Nicholas' (1868-1917) so some of the applause may be credited to my ignorance and credulousness, but I also think that Massie put more work into researching and writing this biography and that thirteen years, and several books, have made him a better write...more

like 5 likes · see review

Faten Eassa I knew about the book through a mini series on TV, I had already read Nicholas and Alexandra and I got so interested in the history of Russia especial...more I knew about the book through a mini series on TV, I had already read Nicholas and Alexandra and I got so interested in the history of Russia especially in the period before the revolution.I'm now reading Peter the Great and enjoying it so much. The history of Russia is fascinating; it's like reading a thriller but the most amazing thing is that it is a real story; it's history. I greatly sympathized with Russia, I was heart-broken for the last Tsar's tragedy and then found out that there have always been tragedies in Russia, starting from since it got occupied by the Mongols who eleinated it from the civilized world for 200 years. Even after the Tsars came to rule, there was something like a curse in the line of males with the exception of Peter the Great of course. It's sad to see that after everything that Peter the Great had done to snatch his country from ignorance and take it up to modernity, and after Catherine his wife and his daughter continued his message, Russia was cursed again by an insane emperor (Peter's grandson) and even when Catherine the Great (not originally Russian) did a wonderful job, she was succeeded by a son who hated her and changed the law of succession to the throne by making female heirs considered only if the royal family was out of male heirs , thus giving way to a very different Romanov succession and perhaps that was what led Tsar Alexandrer to keep trying to have a son. Then the curse continues, the son is born with hemophilia, Rasputin steps in, the Russions, not knowing about the young Tsarevich's illness, they think Rasputing is conspiring with the German Tzarina whom they beleive is a spy. On the other hand Lenin takes advantage of all the discontent at the scene and then the great Russia falls into communisim. It's the most amazing history of a nation that I've ever read about. There are other books that I recommend to those interested in Russian hsitory, like Russka by Edward Rutherfurd, also The Murder of Rasputin by Greg King.(less)
updated Jun 16, 2009 03:52pm

Erik Graff That's the longest comment I've ever seen. Hope you posted it as a review.
Jun 16, 2009 11:16am

Feb 15, 2010 Fee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you complain about today, you should read about then. You were considered a bitch if you ate with a fork, just for starters. Men might prefer to live back then cause they inherited a whip from their father in-law to whip their spouses when they got out of line. The only person I know today that practices this form of discipline is Snoop Dogg (You gots to control your ho!). Peter was great for many reasons. The russians in this day were like the geico cavemen of their time. Peter was the first...more

like 6 likes · see review

Feb 28, 2009 Jonathan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: European history buffs, biography lovers

Recommended to Jonathan by: Ariel H.

Shelves: non-fiction

Robert Massie is a master of historical narrative, and here he turns his attention to a subject fully deserving of his exhaustive style. Crowned Tsar at the age of ten, Peter the Great single-handedly pulled his country out of the backwater malaise in which it was mired, and placed it squarely in the center of the European picture, where it has remained to this day. Peter's forceful personality is given plenty of room to present itself through the book. In his early twenties, he traveled through...more

like 2 likes · see review

Aug 01, 2012 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Having read two books about Catherine the Great, I was curious about what happened before her time. Whew!! What a read. I am a fast reader but even I had to borrow this book from the library twice to get through it. An extremely complex man, to say the least. He single-handedly pulled Russia into modern and Western civilization. Massie gives a balanced account of someone who could be unbelievably generous and turn around and be unbelievably cruel, literally. There is no hiding of his cruelty or...more

like 1 like · see review

May 16, 2012 Carl Brush rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If You were Peter the Great

You would kill your son

Because he had no interest in Tsardom

Because you’d planted an autocrat seed

And it grew into a common man tree

And you couldn’t coerce it out of its nature

So you’d pull out the ax

Timber!

Sap/blood flowing free

[CRB]

Robert K. Massie is not a fluent writer, and this 855 page tome of his was a bit of a haul. He does not have that easy flow you find in a McCulloch or Goodwin, or even of Henri Troyat, who did a great job on both Catherine the Great and T...more

like 1 like · see review

Dec 22, 2011 Tripleguess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

WOW what a challenge to get through. It's not only that the book is big; I'm a fast reader, and I would say it took me about four days not counting the lengthy breaks between reading sessions. It's that much of the material is heavy reading. The guy forces his first wife into a convent and later has her son beaten to death, a fate which, I'm sure, rather affected how the two grandchildren felt about the Tsar. Charles the XII of Sweden invades Russia; his army sustains itself partly by hanging li...more WOW what a challenge to get through. It's not only that the book is big; I'm a fast reader, and I would say it took me about four days not counting the lengthy breaks between reading sessions. It's that much of the material is heavy reading. The guy forces his first wife into a convent and later has her son beaten to death, a fate which, I'm sure, rather affected how the two grandchildren felt about the Tsar. Charles the XII of Sweden invades Russia; his army sustains itself partly by hanging little peasant children unless Mom reveals the family's stash of winter food (without which they will surely starve). Tatars sweep across the south of Russia year after year, carrying away thousands of slaves, and nobody seems to be able to do anything about it. But make sure you get the Tsar's royal title right; he may not defend the borders too well, but he will take your head off if he feels you disrespected him. That is, if you're lucky enough to escape being broken on the wheel or impaled...

Sorry, at this point I can't help cheering for Cromwell.

I appreciate that the book doesn't simply recount "what happened" in a linear fashion; instead, it frequently steps back to give you an overview of the history, culture, and geography surrounding pivotal events. I did find the author's apparent admiration of the Tsarita Sophia repulsive. Sure terem seclusion is not an ideal fate for any girl, but other women endured worse without resorting to murder via instigating riots. Ironically, Peter later did much to free Russian princesses from the terem. Too bad Sophia had already made sure she'd be locked up for life.

I admit, a lot of the little details washed out of my brain as soon as I'd read them. But some things stuck. The way the serfs would dismantle their Lincoln-log style homes to evade the house tax and then reassemble them when the coast was clear was hilarious. The way alcoholism, corruption and backwardness saturated every level of society, even -- if not especially -- the clergy; tragic. The juxtaposition of Peter's impressive professional accomplishments and his sometimes spectacular failures as a husband, father, and decent human being is thought-provoking. You can't easily dismiss or pigeonhole him. I do feel that I understand Russia a little better after reading this book.

This is by no means an extensive review. There's no way I could do the book justice. If you want a thorough look at the life and times of Peter the Great, this is it. If you want a quick introduction, I have to suggest something slimmer. I checked this out and returned it three times before I managed to get through it.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Aug 21, 2011 rmn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction-history

If you read just one book on Peter the Great, this should be it. If you read two books on Peter the Great, let me know how the other one turns out (just kidding, there are probably other good books on Peter the Great, but none likely as well written as this one).

This book succeeds not just because it deals with a fascinating person in a time where the landscape of the world was ever changing, but it succeeds because the author, Robert Massie, is a fantastic and engaging writer. Seriously, to ma...more If you read just one book on Peter the Great, this should be it. If you read two books on Peter the Great, let me know how the other one turns out (just kidding, there are probably other good books on Peter the Great, but none likely as well written as this one).

This book succeeds not just because it deals with a fascinating person in a time where the landscape of the world was ever changing, but it succeeds because the author, Robert Massie, is a fantastic and engaging writer. Seriously, to make 850+ dense pages of Russian history read like a novel, you have to be doing something right, and Massie clearly is so don’t be intimidated by the size or weight of the book as it is well worth the read.

Massie doesn’t just do a terrific job of following the life of Peter the Great, but he paints a detailed picture of late 17th century and early 18th century Russia, he delves in to the intrigue of Europe and the Ottoman Empire with substantial portraits of other leaders such as Charles the XII of Sweden (and note to readers, apparently Sweden kicked a lot of ass back then, who knew?), The Sun King Louis the XIV, Augustus of Poland, Frederick William of Prussia, and numerous others.

In fact the bulk of the book focuses on the 20 year Baltic War between Russia and Sweden (which lasted for most of Peter the Great’s reign and established Russia as a new power in Europe) where the role of Charles the XII is as integral to the story as the role of Peter. So while this section involves a deep look at Peter the Great, it also spends almost as much time on Charles the XII.

Anyway, this is a lively, engaging, and expansive look at Peter the Great who changed the thinking and the standing of an entire country. Peter turned an isolated and backward Russia that was an afterthought to most of Europe, in to a world power simply by the drive of his own will. He had no role model for what he did which was essentially bringing European culture to Russia and catapulting Russia out of the dark ages.

Whether it was his desire for a Russian navy (which he built from nothing to a formidable power by his demise, and quick spoiler, but Peter does die at the end of the book), to have Russians adopt European dress and standards, or to gain land to push Russia’s influence further in the world, Peter never stopped, even if the toll was great (the taxation on Russians was immense, not to mention all of the torture, killings, and deaths associated with putting down rebellions, waging war, and building the entire new city of St. Petersburg. To be honest, the amount of torture and death back then really was overwhelming, heck, Peter even had his own son killed for discussing a rebellion and fleeing Russia rather than choosing to follow in Peter’s footsteps).

Through all of the uncertainty and limited information, Peter refused to accept defeat and in the end created a new power. So if you have a free week or twenty, I highly recommend reading this book as it is well written, informative, and doesn’t just provide great insight in to a fascinating historical figure, but provides an expansive look at Europe and its leaders at the beginning of the 18th century.
(less)

like 4 likes · see review

Mar 30, 2011 Lobdozer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tsar Peter "Velyki" ("the Great") is the man who brought the backwater Tsardom of Muscovy from the feudal middle ages into the modern age ("modern age" in this case referring to the then-current 18th century). He is one of those historical characters who are both renowned for their great achievements and decried for the ruthless lenghts to which they went to achieve them.
In the end, Peter left Russia a modern, powerful empire after his death. But the way he brought about this drastic transforma...more

like · see review

Oct 06, 2009 Steven Peterson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a rich, detailed examination of the life of Peter the Great. One almost gets a sense that his was a life characterized by ADHD--but with enough ability and imagination and focus that the almost out of control energy worked to his homeland's benefit.

This book examines in considerable depth the arc of his life, from childhood and the dangers that he faced, to his play warrior simulations, to his journey abroad, to his desire to reshape Russia as a more modern nation. Well told is his zeal...more

like 1 like · see review

Jan 21, 2013 Brian Knight rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about the life and personality of Peter the Great and the challenges he faced in trying to make Russia a major power on the European stage of the 18th century. Although Peter is accurately described as being a driven, uncompromising, and oftentimes ruthless man, this book also presents his softer, warmer side that usually opened up only to his second wife Catherine and to his inner group of trusted friends.
In reading the biography of Peter, a great deal of insight...more

like · see review

Oct 05, 2008 Srini rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: every one

Can one man raise a country from mud to glory? Yes, if its Peter, Tsar of Russia.
Can one book capture the complexity of the people, the country and their first truly great leader who dragged the country kicking and screaming into the heart of European geopolitics?
Yes. This is the book. One of the best works of narrative history ever. This is how history should come alive.

like 3 likes · see review

Nov 29, 2012 Robert Hill rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this informative biography of Peter the Great. I thought Peter to be a very interesting monarch. His pivotal role in Russian history included the building of the Russian Army and Navy. His approach was to hire and promote individuals based upon merit. He himself took an active interest in stationary fortifications, artillery and shipbuilding. He went into shipyards as a novice workman and worked his way into the more skilled positions and knowledge of shipbuilding. His humility...more

like · see review

Feb 25, 2012 mirole rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My second favorite book ever.

I am amazed that the best-written biography of a Russian cult history figure comes from an American (and I am Russian, so you cannot suspect me in prejudice here).

The only book ever where I devoured all the battle scenes (and I skipped all the war bits in The War and Peace) as I devoured the whole book.

I think it's an amazingly well-researched and well-written book. It reads like a thriller really, I could not put it down.

If you want to read about a real-life Renaiss...more

like · see review

Oct 03, 2010 Rennie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history, russia

It's completely amazing. Even if you're not specifically interested in this history, there's no way you can't love this book. The anecdotes will blow your mind. Understanding contemporary Russia is contingent on knowing this history, since Peter turned Russia from an ass backwards wild mess into a civilized world power. Truly amazing, considering what he had to work with. The book really gives you a great concept of his personality (totally crazy, manic, genius) in the greater context of war and...more

like 1 like · see review

Feb 22, 2013 carmen i. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

If I had to choose one word to describe this biography I would say colossal. The author guides the reader throughout the complexities of Peter’s personality against the historical canvas of seventeenth and eighteenth-century Europe with seemingly like effortless historical narrative.

Massie’s imagery is rich and extensive. It takes a masterful storyteller to intertwine and bring to life the creation of Peter’s incredible army (born from a small group of servants who played in live war games), the...more

like · see review

Jan 25, 2010 Nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I actually started this book in 2007 and lost interest about half way through. I picked it up again and really enjoyed it. There is a lot of history in this book (900 pages), and so much of it is really fascinating. Peter the Great brought Russian out of the dark ages--he opened their borders, created industry and commerce, he went abroad and learned from Europe everything he could, he shaped Russia into a military/naval power. He is one of those rare leaders who did not care about pomp, but abo...more

like · see review

Aug 03, 2011 Bill added it · review of another edition

As historical figures go, Peter I is one that deserves never to be forgotten. When you consider all that he accomplished, you think "man, it was handy to be seven feet tall in the early 18th century!" - how could anyone refuse the bidding of a giant? Peter's hunger for knowledge was as big as he was, and he used what he learned to pull Russia out of its deep savok (well, somewhat). Let's just say he took what was good about Europe (shipbuilding, law, military organization, monetary policy, archi...more

like · see review

Mar 12, 2013 Christine Ward rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Note: The above rating should be 3 1/2 stars.

Often, monarchs are given titles (or, more accurately, give themselves titles) that are grandiose and exaggerated. Not in the case. Peter of Russia was truly "Great". He singlehandedly brought Russia out of its Dark Ages (although there was still much work to be done), introduced the new Russia to Europe, who heretofore had thought of Russians as slightly humanized bears, and introduced many, many "modern" inventions, strategies, statecraft, and ideas...more Note: The above rating should be 3 1/2 stars.

Often, monarchs are given titles (or, more accurately, give themselves titles) that are grandiose and exaggerated. Not in the case. Peter of Russia was truly "Great". He singlehandedly brought Russia out of its Dark Ages (although there was still much work to be done), introduced the new Russia to Europe, who heretofore had thought of Russians as slightly humanized bears, and introduced many, many "modern" inventions, strategies, statecraft, and ideas to Russia. His list of achievements is staggering, and possibly the most remarkable of them all is that Peter insisted on learning everything from the ground up - if he wished to learn something, he began at the bottom, like anyone else, and refused any salaries or awards that a person of that rank would not have normally received.

Peter himself, and his "world", were fascinating to read about. Less fascinating (and the reason for my subjective 3 1/2-star rating) was the seemingly endless wars with Sweden and other countries, told in exhaustive detail. Let me say again - EXHAUSTIVE. Admittedly, I am not enthralled by most military history, nor do I find the minutiae of battles of great interest, but there were entire chapters that were very, very difficult to get through. Although I acknowledge that these battles had aftereffects that shaped Russia, and of course its tsar, I wonder if perhaps Massie would have benefited from selective editing in those chapters. By contrast, although Massie does write about Peter and Catherine's family, I would have preferred to learn a little more about their family life and their surviving children - but perhaps they were not great factors in Peter's "world", and as such, Massie did not spend a lot of time on them. Or perhaps it is just personal preference when it comes to reading biographies which also serve as a history of a country, such as in this book.

However, I learned much about Russia, and of the world at that time, by reading this book, and I would recommend it to almost anyone who is a fan of serious biography. (less)

like · see review

Apr 04, 2012 Jack Hammer is currently reading it · review of another edition

The author goes into great lengths to augment the life of peter the great with important contextual details such as critical personalities and places. As to the man himself; he is someone that many can relate to. He is the quintessential 18th century redneck. He quite often rejected the pomp and circumstance due to the ruler of russian to reside among the working class. The ruler of russia who oft looked into the life of the common sailor with great envy. He embodies a style of leadership overlo...more

like · see review

May 31, 2010 Mike F rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Classic biography of this crazy mofo. Massie writes narrative history, pleasant and entertaining to read. The description of Old Muscovy to open the book is one of my favorite sections of history I have ever read. He describes a Moscow that is basically disconnected from the outside world, and where the palace is a fabulous intricate wooden structure. Then there is a fire, and in the following years Peter the Great comes to power. He modernizes Russia basically through sheer force of will, and m...more

like · see review

Feb 17, 2009 Geoff rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book several years ago and I attribute to my deep love of history. Peter the Great was indeed that. He was a once in century personality. The fact that he left at a young age as a member of the royal family to work in Dutch shipyards to literally learn how to construct a Navy speaks volumes to will and foresight. Massie does a superb job conveying the awesome scope of Peter's decisions and life. Sadly not replicated in his book on Nicholos and Alexandra, but perhaps the source materi...more

like 1 like · see review

Jul 04, 2011 Terri Lynn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history, nonfiction

Peter the Great is someone I both admired and abhorred. Massie tells the story of a leader who soaked up everything the western world had to offer and wasn't afraid to work with his hands and was eager to learn well. He dragged Russia kicking and screaming (literally) into a more modern era which certainly benefitted them yet his arrogant attitude that he was always right and knew best for everyone was rather cloying. He did not mind beating his changes into people. I liked the innovations but h...more

like · see review

Feb 02, 2011 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, reference-books

Massie is probably my favorite nonfiction author at this point, and rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors, period. His writing is so vivid that I felt like I knew these people. They had the complicated shadings of real people; of course they were real people, but that's a quality that doesn't often come over in historical tomes. Make no mistake, this is an epic work--at over 900 pages, this is not a light book, but it reads with the ease and rapidity of a novel. Also, like many good books,...more Massie is probably my favorite nonfiction author at this point, and rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors, period. His writing is so vivid that I felt like I knew these people. They had the complicated shadings of real people; of course they were real people, but that's a quality that doesn't often come over in historical tomes. Make no mistake, this is an epic work--at over 900 pages, this is not a light book, but it reads with the ease and rapidity of a novel. Also, like many good books, it also inspired me to read about other historical figures, some of which I'v/e heard of but know little about, some of which I'd never even heard of before.

I have two minor issues, one of which was not really the author's fault, and one that was. The one that was not Massie's fault was that there were so many people involved that it was hard to keep track of who was who, especially since some would be main characters for a few hundred pages, and then disappear for a few hundred more, only to reappear abruptly and with no re-introduction. I felt like I could have benefitted from an Agatha Christie-like cast of characters to keep them all straight.

Second, and this one was on Massie, was that he organized the book in a way that was partly chronological, but also partly topical. He would treat one subject completely, then go back and deal with other topics, even if it meant covering the same years multiple times. This made keeping tracks of event order difficult, and made it impossible to have a grasp of what was happening simultaneously, and what wasn't. That also meant that there were ominous foreshadowings or references in parts of the book that were not paid off until hundreds of pages later, which was more frustrating than suspenseful.

Also, as a side note, the book was written in 1980, and there has been no updated edition, so Massie does compare things to "today in the Soviet Union" or talk about "under communism today," which makes parts of his comparisons seem a little dated. Those sections are few in number and minor in importance, though, and have nothing to do with the overall drama of Peter's life, so they didn't really detract from the book.(less)

like · see review

Jun 08, 2009 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

This is a lot more than most people will want to know about Peter the Great (855 pages worth). On the other hand, Peter was an extremely important historical figure who is rarely, if ever, touch upon in most American studies. Were it not for Peter, modern Russia, as we know it, would not exist.

Another interesting feature of the book involves Charles XII of Sweden. Today we think of Sweden as a peaceful country with a cradle to grave social system. The Swedish empire with its aggressive warlike...more

like · see review

Apr 03, 2010 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading this book, it is impossible to deny that "the Great" is a well-earned title for Peter. Massie's very readable biography illustrates how one remarkable man almost singlehandedly pulled Russia from the dark ages right into the middle of the European theater. It would take an entire book for me to even list all the reasons this man was so remarkable (but hey, that's why you should read this one!). One of Massie's greatest strengths as a biographer is his ability to place his character...more

like 1 like · see review

Mar 26, 2012 John rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't think he was so great.
I don't even think he was Peter the Pretty Good.
I think he was Peter the Creep.
The evidence:
* Unwilling to share power, he had his older sister exiled to a convent. Blaming her for inciting a rebellion from inside the convent walls, he had two of the rebels hung outside of her window.
* He grew tired of his first wife and had her, also, sent to a convent.
* Even while he was negotiating a peace treaty with Sweden, he was cementing an alliance with other nations to wag...more I don't think he was so great.
I don't even think he was Peter the Pretty Good.
I think he was Peter the Creep.
The evidence:
* Unwilling to share power, he had his older sister exiled to a convent. Blaming her for inciting a rebellion from inside the convent walls, he had two of the rebels hung outside of her window.
* He grew tired of his first wife and had her, also, sent to a convent.
* Even while he was negotiating a peace treaty with Sweden, he was cementing an alliance with other nations to wage war with Sweden.
* To finance his military ambitions, he taxed the Russian peasants unmercifully. The tax on salt was so onerous that many peasants died for lack of sodium in their diets.
* He allowed his son to be tortured and condemned to death on scant evidence that the son was involved in a conspiracy against Peter. Alexis only avoided being beheaded by dying before the execution could be carried out.
I liked Peter's great antagonist, the headstrong Charles XII of Sweden, better than I liked Peter. I found myself rooting for Sweden in The Great Northern War that makes up the heart of this book. It was not to be; Peter ultimately prevailed. Peter and Charles actually had a lot in common, including the fact that many of their subjects wished they would just go away.
In fairness, there was also much to like about Peter, especially if you weren't closely related to him. And even in that arena, he remained devoted to his second wife, Catherine.
Peter was certainly one of history's fascinating characters, as is amply illustrated in this massive biography by Robert K. Massie. One of the things that is most attractive and interesting about Peter is his hatred of ceremony, his love of simplicity, his desire to get his hands dirty and do the work of a laborer, to put others in charge of battle and engage in warfare himself.
He carried all of this to an extreme during an 18-month diplomatic mission to Europe early in his reign, during which he attempted to travel incognito while lesser officials took on the ceremonial duties. It was difficult for the tsar to travel incognito because: 1) He stood 6 feet, 7 inches tall; 2) He had a pronounced tic on the left side of his body.
In short, or perhaps I should say in tall, everyone quickly knew he was the tsar and treated him that way, even when all he wanted to do was help build a ship. This greatly irritated Peter.
Massie demonstrates that Peter modernized Russia, dragging its people into the 18th century by the hair of their chins. Actually, there was no hair to drag them by, because Peter prohibited beards. You could have a beard, but you had to pay a tax, and it wasn't a good idea to keep your beard if you were going to be in the tsar's presence.
He also built the Russian military from a paper lion into a great power, and the navy from non-existent to a formidable fleet.
Peter did all of this while drinking prodigious amounts of alcohol.
Massie tells his story in great detail. The scholarship is impressive. The writing is fine, but it doesn't sparkle in the way that the works of the best biographers (William Manchester, Ron Chernow) sparkle.
I'm grateful for "Peter he Great His Life and World" nonetheless. I learned a lot about a person, time and place that I had known almost nothing about before.(less)

like 1 like · see review

May 13, 2012 John Aubrey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Thank you Mister Massie.

We know Peter wasn't the hero this book would like him to be. But what great person ever lives up to hindsight and hype? This is still an amazing retelling of a life. Massie gives us a Russia as fantastic as anything invented in fiction. A big bawdy place whose's people are even larger. This is an introduction that seems aimed at a general audience. A mainstreaming of Russian history for those of us would do not see the value of remembering all the names, but still want...more

like · see review

Sep 25, 2012 lia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history

Finally this torture is over.....

I found it really hard to read Peter The Great by Robert K.Massie. It is so detailed, i just lost myself in it. I understand the importance of giving the context of the day, but really, does he has to explain all those things about Louis XIV or about Charles XII or about every tiny detailed things about everyone else?

So among all these details, i lost Peter Romanov somehow. I never truly understand how he become Peter The Great. Yes, he built St.Petersburg, but...more

like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Dorothy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

Absolutely sublime. An amazing portrait of one of modern history's most seminal visionaries. A view into the complex personality of an autocrat forcing his people to leave the medieval world, coalesce as a nation and become a player on the world stage. Peter was superhuman in his energy and breadth of interests and all too human in his grievances and struggles with his temper and a physical condition which caused him to have mini-seizures throughout his life. His was a constant trial to balance...more

like 1 like · see review

Feb 19, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading Robert Massie's "Catherine the Great," I had to read the earlier history of Russia. The book is comprehensive and long ... and fascinating. Peter the Great was a reformer, religiously tolerant, but also brutal and unforgiving. The mid-1600s to the early 1700's -- the intrique, wars, the founding of the Russian navy, and Peter's creation of St. Petersburg out of a swamp are detailed. This is the history of Russia and Europe, of Peter the Great attempting, and somewhat succeeding, in...more

like 1 like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (23)

More editions...

Genres

History

277 users

Biography

191 users

Non Fiction

98 users

Cultural > Russia

71 users

Biography Memoir

16 users

History > European History

14 users

History > World History

9 users

Literature > 18th Century

3 users

War > Military

2 users

Literature > 20th Century

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Robert K. Massie

Robert Kinloch Massie (born 1929) is an American historian, writer, winner of a Pulitzer Prize, and a Rhodes Scholar.

Born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1929, Massie spent much of his youth in Nashville, Tennessee and currently resides in Westchester County, New York in the village of Irvington. He studied American history at Yale University and modern European history at Oxford University on his Rhode...more

More about Robert K. Massie...

Books by Robert K. Massie

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Peter the Great

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Peter the Great: His Life and World
avg rating	preview: Peter the Great: His Life and World Goodreads rating: 4.27 (3411 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13331172-peter-the-great?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344371090l/13331172.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13331172-peter-the-great?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Peter the Great: His Life and World by Robert K. Massie[/url]

Peter the Great: His Life and World

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website