In "Catherine the Great," Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert K. Massie crafts a masterful narrative of the empress who came to define an era of Russian history. Venturing far beyond the borders of her native German principality, a young princess of minor nobility is transformed through sheer will and intellect into one of the most formidable rulers on the global stage. Massie's account is not merely a biography but a vivid tapestry of a time when Enlightenment ideals began to penetrate the opulent but backward Russian empire. Through her voracious appetite for the works of Voltaire, Diderot, and other luminaries, Catherine attempted to mold her reign with the principles of reason and benevolence, seeking to navigate the complexities of governing a people mired in the traditions of serfdom. The narrative delves deeply into Catherine's personal and political life, illuminating her relationships with contemporaries like Frederick the Great and Marie Antoinette, and her tumultuous liaisons with lovers and allies. Most notable among these was Gregory Potemkin, with whom she shared not just a passionate romance but an ambitious partnership that left an indelible mark on Russian society. Massie's portrayal of Catherine is nuanced and compelling, revealing a woman who was at once a product of and a challenge to her times. With a historian's rigor and a storyteller's flair, Massie brings to life the enduring legacy of Catherine the Great, a woman whose ambitions and achievements reshaped her country and the course of history.