Questions About Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

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Answered Questions (6)

I feel so dumb, is anyone else having trouble keeping all these princes and princesses and other nutters straight? I can't remember who's who sometimes...

Suem Our entire book club decided that the book was about Catherine, and that trying to keep up with the names and lineage of all the other characters was …moreOur entire book club decided that the book was about Catherine, and that trying to keep up with the names and lineage of all the other characters was probably not allowing us to enjoy the book as much. Keep that in mind, and you will like it more! Enjoy.(less)

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I know the Massies are the bomb on Russia and Catherine the Great but I wonder, Dana did this seem like her lovers in the revolving bedroom door were emphasized because she was female. Kinda askin' if a female author might have stress some other aspects of her reign.

Diane Actually, I thought the author did a good job of placing her love life in perspective. I didn't think he emphasized her dalliances excessively. He spe…moreActually, I thought the author did a good job of placing her love life in perspective. I didn't think he emphasized her dalliances excessively. He spent a great deal of time considering who she was as a person and a woman, as well as a monarch.(less)

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I'm looking for a particular quote of Catherine the Great's. Can anyone tell me if it is included in this book or not? I don't recall it verbatim, but it's something to the effect of "I've lived a thousand horrors (half of which I have forgotten), and (some amount) of women in my place would have gone mad, and (some amount) would have died of a broken heart"?

Jquick99 I don’t think it’s in the book. Just finished listening to it, and skipped over a very small portion (dealing with minutiae of war) and didn’t hear it…moreI don’t think it’s in the book. Just finished listening to it, and skipped over a very small portion (dealing with minutiae of war) and didn’t hear it. (less)

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Is this a biography or historical fiction?

Julia Biography. All events are events that happened in history and the book focuses on the life of one extraordinary woman.

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did i miss something, or did the author not make any mention of Catherine and Gregory Orlov's daughter Elizabeth Alexandrovna Alexeeva born 1761 died 1844?

Jquick99 I don’t think this is mentioned. Where I’m at... She just gave birth to Orlov’s son (in hiding) and just before this, it’s mentioned that she’s had (o…moreI don’t think this is mentioned. Where I’m at... She just gave birth to Orlov’s son (in hiding) and just before this, it’s mentioned that she’s had (or will have) 3 kids by 3 men. If there was a daughter a year before this, then this would be baby/kid #4. (less)

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Unanswered Questions (2)

"Wagner's rigid methodology-memorize and repeat- made little headway against a pupil whom Babet had already described as an esprit gauche and who asked embarrassing questions....." Can anyone shed some light on the phrase "esprit gauche" as used in the book?

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Has anyone been able to find on the internet a good family tree for Catherine to help put the myriad of characters into some semblance of an understandable guideline? Thanks in advance!

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