Elizabeth and Catherine: empresses of all the Russias

For some reason, English-speakers seem fixated on the regent Elizabeth I and pay scant attention to the infinitely more enjoyable Empress Elizabeth, daugher of Peter, enemy of Prussia; she of the 300 lovers, whose favorite was nicknamed "Emperor of the Night." Elizabeth's handling of her family affairs, especially her selection of the young German Princess Sophie of Anzalt as future Tsarina - and her DIRECT manipulation of her reproducitve activities - makes Henry VII's domestic life look placid. As we know, Sophie the German changed her name to Catherine and became Empress/Tsarina of Russia when her idiot husband was finally offed. Couglan's book is a wonderful retelling of this epic yarn, focusing exclusively on court politics. (This is NOT a military history of the Seven Years War or the Russo-Turkish wars; Potemkin's and Orlov's goings on are limited to their interaction with Catherine.) Coughlan is particularly strong at explaining the historical pretext for Russian expansion throughout Poland and Tartary.

A very interesting book that grabs the reader due to its combination of historical fact and flowing narrative. A lot easier and enjoyable to read than the common historical "tome" - with the content more memorable as a result! Great read.