Catherine the Great：Portrait of a Woman

本書描寫俄國女皇 Catherine the Great 一生的真實故事。出身小貴族的她，憑藉堅定意志與非凡才智，登上帝位，掌管國政長達三十四年。她推動改革、關心民生，面對叛亂、戰爭與法國大革命的浪潮，皆以冷靜與手腕化險為夷。作者 Robert K. Massie 以精確的史料與生動的筆法，刻畫這位帝王與她的親族、將領、情人、政敵間複雜的關係，重現一段充滿權力與人性的歷史。

・以史實為本，筆觸細膩而具戲劇張力。
・描寫女性掌權的智慧與孤獨。
・對18世紀歐洲政治與文化風貌有深刻呈現。

The fascinating true story behind HBO's Catherine the Great starring Dame Helen Mirren as Catherine the Great. Born into a minor noble family, Catherine transformed herself into empress of Russia by sheer determination. For thirty-four years, the government, foreign policy, cultural development and welfare of the Russian people were in her hands.

She dealt with domestic rebellion, foreign wars and the tidal wave of political change and violence churned up by the French Revolution. Robert K. Massie brings an eternally fascinating woman together with her family, friends, ministers, generals, lovers and enemies – vividly and triumphantly to life.

History offers few stories richer than that of Catherine the Great.