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Peter der Große
Text: French
395 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
6 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
About the author
Henri Troyat
515 books271 followersTroyat was a French author, biographer, historian and novelist.
Troyat was born Levon Aslan Torossian in Moscow to parents of Armenian descent. His family fled Russia in anticipation of the revolution. After a long exodus taking them to the Caucasus on to Crimea and later by sea to Constantinople and then Venice, the family finally settled in Paris in 1920, where young Troyat was schooled and later earned a law degree. The stirring and tragic events of this flight across half of Europe are vividly recounted by Troyat in 'Tant que la terre durera'.
Troyat received his first literary award, Le prix du roman populaire, at the age of twenty-four, and by twenty-seven, he was awarded the Prix Goncourt.
Troyat published more than 100 books, novels and biographies, among them those of Anton Chekhov, Catherine the Great, Rasputin, Ivan the Terrible and Leo Tolstoy.
Troyat's best-known work is La neige en deuil, which was adapted as an English-language film in 1956 under the title The Mountain.
He was elected as a member of the Académie française in 1959. At the time of his death, Troyat was the longest serving member of the Academy.
From Wikipedia
Troyat was born Levon Aslan Torossian in Moscow to parents of Armenian descent. His family fled Russia in anticipation of the revolution. After a long exodus taking them to the Caucasus on to Crimea and later by sea to Constantinople and then Venice, the family finally settled in Paris in 1920, where young Troyat was schooled and later earned a law degree. The stirring and tragic events of this flight across half of Europe are vividly recounted by Troyat in 'Tant que la terre durera'.
Troyat received his first literary award, Le prix du roman populaire, at the age of twenty-four, and by twenty-seven, he was awarded the Prix Goncourt.
Troyat published more than 100 books, novels and biographies, among them those of Anton Chekhov, Catherine the Great, Rasputin, Ivan the Terrible and Leo Tolstoy.
Troyat's best-known work is La neige en deuil, which was adapted as an English-language film in 1956 under the title The Mountain.
He was elected as a member of the Académie française in 1959. At the time of his death, Troyat was the longest serving member of the Academy.
From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 24, 2025
Знаменитият цитат гласи, че "Властта покварява, а абсолютната власт покварява абсолютно". Истината в него може да се види в практически всеки пожизнен диктатор на многобройните африкански и други държавици, дето след 30 г. когато никой не смее да им каже когато почнат да говорят и правят глупости, въпросните диктатори почват да носят идиотски униформи, да издигат златни статуи на себе си и даже в отделни случаи да ядат хора.
Сега си представете същия случай на абсолютна власт, само че първо, много по-абсолютна отколкото можем да си представим в днешно време, в която думата на диктатора е буквално закон, и тоя диктатор е диктатор от дете, така че даже не е имал възможност да види какво е нормален живот и нормални отношения между хората.
Факт е, че Петър Велики е бил алкохолик, курвар, който е живеел за пирове и денонощни пиянства, невъздържан простак, биещ приятелите и подчинените си и каращ ги да се напиват до насиране под страх от смъртно наказание, жесток до безчовечност мъчител, участващ с жив интерес и ентусиазъм в модерните през епохата немислими днес мъчения и екзекуции на хиляди обвинени, че му се противопоставят.
Но предвид в какво се превръщат дори днес хора с много по-малко власт, отколкото той е имал, които са били на власт много по-малко време, отколкото той е бил, можем ли наистина да го упрекнем за това какъв човек е бил и какво е правил? Можем ли да кажем, че много от нас биха били по-добри от него, в такива условия, особено предвид епохата, в която е живял?
Можем ли да кажем за себе си, че ако някой ни даде такава безгранична власт над милиони човешки души, такова абсолютно господство над една от най-големите империи в света, ако никой още от деца не ни научи на разликата между добро и лошо... Толкова ли високо мнение имаме за своя разсъдък и морални устои, та да сме сигурни, че с течение на времето нямаше да се превърнем в създания, много по-гротески от него?
Иронично е, когато четем за живота и начина му на управление, но сред руските царе и императори Петър дори е един от по-добрите, що се отнася до отношението му към руския народ. Той е, както казват американците "по-голям от живота" и е живял по единствения начин, който е познавал - и през това време се е опитал къде успешно, къде - не, да завлече ритащата и съпротивляваща се руска империя и общество от средновековието в ако не 18ти, то поне в отиващия си 17ти век.
Сега си представете същия случай на абсолютна власт, само че първо, много по-абсолютна отколкото можем да си представим в днешно време, в която думата на диктатора е буквално закон, и тоя диктатор е диктатор от дете, така че даже не е имал възможност да види какво е нормален живот и нормални отношения между хората.
Факт е, че Петър Велики е бил алкохолик, курвар, който е живеел за пирове и денонощни пиянства, невъздържан простак, биещ приятелите и подчинените си и каращ ги да се напиват до насиране под страх от смъртно наказание, жесток до безчовечност мъчител, участващ с жив интерес и ентусиазъм в модерните през епохата немислими днес мъчения и екзекуции на хиляди обвинени, че му се противопоставят.
Но предвид в какво се превръщат дори днес хора с много по-малко власт, отколкото той е имал, които са били на власт много по-малко време, отколкото той е бил, можем ли наистина да го упрекнем за това какъв човек е бил и какво е правил? Можем ли да кажем, че много от нас биха били по-добри от него, в такива условия, особено предвид епохата, в която е живял?
Можем ли да кажем за себе си, че ако някой ни даде такава безгранична власт над милиони човешки души, такова абсолютно господство над една от най-големите империи в света, ако никой още от деца не ни научи на разликата между добро и лошо... Толкова ли високо мнение имаме за своя разсъдък и морални устои, та да сме сигурни, че с течение на времето нямаше да се превърнем в създания, много по-гротески от него?
Иронично е, когато четем за живота и начина му на управление, но сред руските царе и императори Петър дори е един от по-добрите, що се отнася до отношението му към руския народ. Той е, както казват американците "по-голям от живота" и е живял по единствения начин, който е познавал - и през това време се е опитал къде успешно, къде - не, да завлече ритащата и съпротивляваща се руска империя и общество от средновековието в ако не 18ти, то поне в отиващия си 17ти век.
May 20, 2024
მტრის ისტორია განსაკუთრებით კარგად უნდა იცოდე, რომ მისი მომავალი ნაბიჯებიც დაინახო. პეტრე პირველის ეპოქა კი განსაკუთრებით საინტერესოა. თითქოს "ძერჟავამ" ევროპისკენ გაიხედა და ბევრი რამ გადმოიტანა ცივილიზებული სამყაროდან, თუმცა მეფის მაგალითზეც შესანიშანავად ჩანს, რომ მხოლოდ წვერის გაპარსვა ან თუნდაც დასავლური ყაიდის ქალაქის აშენება არ ნიშნავს წინსვლას - არც თავად პეტრეს და არც მის ქვეყანას დაუვიწყებიათ ფარისევლური რწმენა, უსაზღვრო ჭამა-სმა, გარყვნილება, ძალადობა, სიცრუე და ამპარტავნება. ეს იყო XVII-XVIII საუკუნებში, ასეა დღესაც...
February 4, 2026
I read this book in its original French version, but I understand that many books of Henri Troyat, including this one, have been translated into English. Fascinated by the history of Russia, I have read many books about this unique country and its leaders. Among the generations of tsars who have shaped its history, the most extraordinary is without any doubt Peter the Great (1672 - 1725). While the book contains funny anecdotes, some depicting a man without manner, unable to use a knife and a fork in European court receptions, or being so drunk that he shot at Rubens paintings in London, just for fun, Henri Troyat details the biography and the complicated personality of Peter the Great marvellously, with lots of historical references. Peter the Great remains for many the Tsar who built the wonderful city of Saint Petersburg after his victory over the Swedes. But above all, he is the tsar that showed a fascination for Europe and an insatiable desire to travel around Europe (against the will of the Russian clergy, which strongly believed that the place of a Russian Tsar was in Russia, not elsewhere) from where he will bring back home all kinds of discoveries in science, engineering, arts, culture and manners that enabled him to modernise Russia. Importantly, Peter the Great will organise the Russian army, establish a Russian fleet (at a time when there was none) and transform Russia into a modern nation and a real European power that started to weigh on international relations. He truly contributed to make Russia what it is today.
Review by Bruno Gremez
Review by Bruno Gremez
June 5, 2021
Voltaire has heard from Cardinal Guillaume Dubois that Tsar Peter is only but weirdo, born only to become junior deck hand on Dutch ship.
Peter has extensively eaten and drunk a lot of alcohol, to the point like when he was in spa, supposed to drink only this water from spa, but he was bored and started to drink alcohol and eating a lot there.Later he forced doctor to sign documents that he is healthy again giving memorial tablet to this spa.
He was making this ridiculous parties where he was playing as high priest among his drunk friend dressed as well as priests.
He also worked a lot however his interest has been minor things, for away from his duties, let's say that it was often nonsense. He was as proud as laughing stock( in good humor/tone of it all), liking in about himself.
This book is good and interesting as any book about any of famous people from history. Although bit boring, apart from good stuff that is usually in such books
Peter has extensively eaten and drunk a lot of alcohol, to the point like when he was in spa, supposed to drink only this water from spa, but he was bored and started to drink alcohol and eating a lot there.Later he forced doctor to sign documents that he is healthy again giving memorial tablet to this spa.
He was making this ridiculous parties where he was playing as high priest among his drunk friend dressed as well as priests.
He also worked a lot however his interest has been minor things, for away from his duties, let's say that it was often nonsense. He was as proud as laughing stock( in good humor/tone of it all), liking in about himself.
This book is good and interesting as any book about any of famous people from history. Although bit boring, apart from good stuff that is usually in such books
April 14, 2020
La scrittura di Troyat trasmette lo stesso entusiasmo che provo ogni volta nel leggere della vita di Pietro, un personaggio tanto contraddittorio quanto immenso. Non è da poco far divertire i propri lettori anche quando si racconta di città nate su carneficine, condanne a morte a sangue freddo, decapitazioni e dissezioni varie.
March 3, 2019
A bit of a disappointment this one. I didn’t expect a rigorous assessment but hoped for a stylish, quite thorough overview like the Massie volume. It seemed to fall short - if I’d read this one first my grasp of Peter’s campaigns against Sweden & in the Balkans would have been sketchy as would the relationship with his son.
July 15, 2010
Very nice told story of Peter the Great.
I like Henri Troyat rich language and deep research he did on all his books.
Recommend this book to everyone who likes historical fiction
I like Henri Troyat rich language and deep research he did on all his books.
Recommend this book to everyone who likes historical fiction
June 18, 2014
Russian history is so intersting... and Peter the Great is one unique character. Great read
January 7, 2023
“Saziante” è il termine che mi sembra più opportuno, per definire questa biografia di Pietro il Grande, scritta dallo storico francese (di origini armeno-russe) Henri Troyat.
D'altra parte stiamo per parlare, qui, di un uomo-amante. Amante del cibo, del vino, del sesso (sia con donne, che con uomini), del sapere, del lavoro, del potere, del sangue, dell'irriverenza (al punto di organizzare processioni buffonesche, per ridicolizzare il clero), della vita, della morte, della tortura e di tante altre cose macabre o paradisiache.
Della vita dello zar Pietro Alekseevič Romanov e della Russia a cavallo tra i secoli 1600 e 1700, ci viene offerto, si sarà capito, un quadro approfondito (e, va riconosciuto, imparziale), che da un lato ci descrive un personaggio storico controverso, e dall'altro fa luce sulla condizione di profonda arretratezza, ritardo e chiusura di quel paese, in quel periodo.
Verrebbe da dire che, per quanto in un secolo e in un contesto si possa essere innovatori, si è comunque inevitabilmente influenzati da esso, dallo Zeitgeist e dall'habitat in cui si è immersi. Dico questo perché, leggendo queste pagine, l'unico aggettivo in grado di descrivere bene sia lo zar, sia i russi, sia la Russia è “selvatico”.
Da un lato, Troyat mostra come i costumi russi fossero già pesantemente influenzati dal credo ortodosso e dalla tradizione, dall'altro mostra anche come la popolazione conservasse ancora tratti feroci: sete di sangue e di squartamenti su larga scala, compiuti e accettati con relativa facilità. Ed alcuni di questi episodi avvennero davanti agli occhi di Pietro, quando era ancora un bambino in balia dei giochi di potere e di palazzo, cosa che lo avrà sicuramente influenzato nella sua vita da adulto. Lui stesso, finché non fu incoronato e relegò la sorella Sofia in convento, non poté dirsi al sicuro da trame o rivolte. Questo clima, nonostante abbia contribuito a svilupparne l'acuta intelligenza e la voglia di esplorare vari mestieri e vari paesi d'Europa, per rendere la Russia una presenza progredita e importante sullo scacchiere internazionale, rese Pietro non meno feroce, se non addirittura non meno brutale, dei suoi sudditi.
Tuttavia, verrebbe da dire che fossero caratteristiche necessarie per governare e sopravvivere in un paese vasto e con una popolazione riluttante ai cambiamenti e pronta a far rotolare teste, arti e budella.
Pietro, con inventiva e tenacia, con voglia di imparare e col pugno di ferro, riuscì a conquistare nuovi territori, a proiettare la Russia in Europa e sui mari, sconfiggendo la Svezia di un altro giovane re, noto alle cancellerie europee per le sue prodezze: Carlo XII. Solo dopo aver ridimensionato il paese scandinavo San Pietroburgo poté vedere la luce, così come la prima flotta russa: un evento che avrebbe cambiato la storia.
E non meno potente e invasivo fu il suo intervento sugli usi e i costumi dei russi, costringendoli a vestire all'occidentale, a tagliarsi le barbe, ad adottare il calendario giuliano, e poi modificando il sistema monetario e adottando la carta bollata e facendo divenire capitale San Pietroburgo, con tutto ciò che questo significò a livello di trasferimenti di personale, materie prime e popolazione, da Mosca e dal resto della Russia alle acque del mar Baltico.
Insomma, quest’uomo indomabile, dal carattere tanto faceto quanto efferato, tanto religioso quanto dissoluto, tanto ingordo di vita quanto rapido a far cader teste (tra le quali quella del suo stesso figlio), infuriò nelle terre di Russia e per tutto il Vecchio Continente, conquistandosi senza appello un posto di rilievo nei libri di storia. Sicuramente “grande”, il che non vuol dire che debba piacere o si debba condividere tutto il suo operato, che – mai come in questo caso – si divide davvero tra il lodevole e il riprovevole.
E mi piace, di questa biografia scritta da Herni Troyat, il fatto che l’autore non nasconda nulla e descriva a tutto tondo questa figura, senza giudicarla o elogiarla particolarmente.
Una lettura fondamentale per chiunque si interessi di storia. Bravo Troyat, promosso!
D'altra parte stiamo per parlare, qui, di un uomo-amante. Amante del cibo, del vino, del sesso (sia con donne, che con uomini), del sapere, del lavoro, del potere, del sangue, dell'irriverenza (al punto di organizzare processioni buffonesche, per ridicolizzare il clero), della vita, della morte, della tortura e di tante altre cose macabre o paradisiache.
Della vita dello zar Pietro Alekseevič Romanov e della Russia a cavallo tra i secoli 1600 e 1700, ci viene offerto, si sarà capito, un quadro approfondito (e, va riconosciuto, imparziale), che da un lato ci descrive un personaggio storico controverso, e dall'altro fa luce sulla condizione di profonda arretratezza, ritardo e chiusura di quel paese, in quel periodo.
Verrebbe da dire che, per quanto in un secolo e in un contesto si possa essere innovatori, si è comunque inevitabilmente influenzati da esso, dallo Zeitgeist e dall'habitat in cui si è immersi. Dico questo perché, leggendo queste pagine, l'unico aggettivo in grado di descrivere bene sia lo zar, sia i russi, sia la Russia è “selvatico”.
Da un lato, Troyat mostra come i costumi russi fossero già pesantemente influenzati dal credo ortodosso e dalla tradizione, dall'altro mostra anche come la popolazione conservasse ancora tratti feroci: sete di sangue e di squartamenti su larga scala, compiuti e accettati con relativa facilità. Ed alcuni di questi episodi avvennero davanti agli occhi di Pietro, quando era ancora un bambino in balia dei giochi di potere e di palazzo, cosa che lo avrà sicuramente influenzato nella sua vita da adulto. Lui stesso, finché non fu incoronato e relegò la sorella Sofia in convento, non poté dirsi al sicuro da trame o rivolte. Questo clima, nonostante abbia contribuito a svilupparne l'acuta intelligenza e la voglia di esplorare vari mestieri e vari paesi d'Europa, per rendere la Russia una presenza progredita e importante sullo scacchiere internazionale, rese Pietro non meno feroce, se non addirittura non meno brutale, dei suoi sudditi.
Tuttavia, verrebbe da dire che fossero caratteristiche necessarie per governare e sopravvivere in un paese vasto e con una popolazione riluttante ai cambiamenti e pronta a far rotolare teste, arti e budella.
Pietro, con inventiva e tenacia, con voglia di imparare e col pugno di ferro, riuscì a conquistare nuovi territori, a proiettare la Russia in Europa e sui mari, sconfiggendo la Svezia di un altro giovane re, noto alle cancellerie europee per le sue prodezze: Carlo XII. Solo dopo aver ridimensionato il paese scandinavo San Pietroburgo poté vedere la luce, così come la prima flotta russa: un evento che avrebbe cambiato la storia.
E non meno potente e invasivo fu il suo intervento sugli usi e i costumi dei russi, costringendoli a vestire all'occidentale, a tagliarsi le barbe, ad adottare il calendario giuliano, e poi modificando il sistema monetario e adottando la carta bollata e facendo divenire capitale San Pietroburgo, con tutto ciò che questo significò a livello di trasferimenti di personale, materie prime e popolazione, da Mosca e dal resto della Russia alle acque del mar Baltico.
Insomma, quest’uomo indomabile, dal carattere tanto faceto quanto efferato, tanto religioso quanto dissoluto, tanto ingordo di vita quanto rapido a far cader teste (tra le quali quella del suo stesso figlio), infuriò nelle terre di Russia e per tutto il Vecchio Continente, conquistandosi senza appello un posto di rilievo nei libri di storia. Sicuramente “grande”, il che non vuol dire che debba piacere o si debba condividere tutto il suo operato, che – mai come in questo caso – si divide davvero tra il lodevole e il riprovevole.
E mi piace, di questa biografia scritta da Herni Troyat, il fatto che l’autore non nasconda nulla e descriva a tutto tondo questa figura, senza giudicarla o elogiarla particolarmente.
Una lettura fondamentale per chiunque si interessi di storia. Bravo Troyat, promosso!
August 10, 2025
The book is fascinating; simply the view of Russian justice in czarist times is incredible. Justice was arbitrary. No prosecutor, no defending attorney. Simply whatever the czar decided, and torture was a big part of that. If you were accused, you were guilty. As simple as that.
I don't generally read biographies, but I had this in my bookcase for a few years; so it was Read the Book or throw it out.
The author, Henri Troyat, is an expert in the lives of czars. He writes in French, so the book I have is a translation that is quite readable, but occasionally has terms that I was unfamiliar with and had to look up. 'Byar' and 'duma' are examples.
Peter was 10 years old when his father, Feodor III, died. He had an older half-brother, Ivan, who was weak and rather feeble-minded. Ivan and Peter became co-czars, but Peter wielded the power of the throne. Russia, in those times, was a backward nation, ruled as much by tradition and the Russian Orthodox church. Peter had a greater vision for his country, built on military conquest. But the military ('Streltsy') was weak and opposed to reforms.
Peter had to have a navy and, with heavy taxation of landowners and serf, built one. He build a new capital, St. Petersburg, on the swampy coast, far from Moscow. He went to war and built alliances within Europe. His enemies were Poland, Turkey, and Sweden.
As a person, Peter was young and impetuous, a person who tolerated no opposition, including from the church. As striving as he was to build up Russia as a world power, however, he was driven to excesses in sex and alcohol.
Troyat excels in his descriptions of political intrigue and of life in Russia, in which there was neither justice nor freedom for the ordinary person. Theirs was basically a life of slavery, for which Peter had little interest in improving.
For Peter, it was development of Russia, the nation, above everything else.
I definitely recommend this book. It will open your eyes to conditions of life in the late 17th century and beyond.
I don't generally read biographies, but I had this in my bookcase for a few years; so it was Read the Book or throw it out.
The author, Henri Troyat, is an expert in the lives of czars. He writes in French, so the book I have is a translation that is quite readable, but occasionally has terms that I was unfamiliar with and had to look up. 'Byar' and 'duma' are examples.
Peter was 10 years old when his father, Feodor III, died. He had an older half-brother, Ivan, who was weak and rather feeble-minded. Ivan and Peter became co-czars, but Peter wielded the power of the throne. Russia, in those times, was a backward nation, ruled as much by tradition and the Russian Orthodox church. Peter had a greater vision for his country, built on military conquest. But the military ('Streltsy') was weak and opposed to reforms.
Peter had to have a navy and, with heavy taxation of landowners and serf, built one. He build a new capital, St. Petersburg, on the swampy coast, far from Moscow. He went to war and built alliances within Europe. His enemies were Poland, Turkey, and Sweden.
As a person, Peter was young and impetuous, a person who tolerated no opposition, including from the church. As striving as he was to build up Russia as a world power, however, he was driven to excesses in sex and alcohol.
Troyat excels in his descriptions of political intrigue and of life in Russia, in which there was neither justice nor freedom for the ordinary person. Theirs was basically a life of slavery, for which Peter had little interest in improving.
For Peter, it was development of Russia, the nation, above everything else.
I definitely recommend this book. It will open your eyes to conditions of life in the late 17th century and beyond.
October 2, 2022
The author has done his research for this book well. He includes comments about Peter which foreign diplomats to Russia included in their reports to their governments, as well as quotes from personal journals and notes from Peter. He also uses letters and journals from Peter’s court and subjects.
Peter built a new capital from nothing on boggy ground on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. At first he intended the site as a place that he could escape court life in Moscow and engage in sailing on the sea. Later, as the hamlet grew, he began to think that changing the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg would be instrumental in changing the hide-bound Russian ideas which looked mostly included past thinking and tradition.
During construction of St. Petersburg troops of workers were brought to work by force. Some were specialists, skilled workers, such as masons, carpenters,blacksmiths, etc.; some were unskilled workers. Some workers were employed for a few months and returned home. Others were requisitioned for their lifetime. In 1704 Peter ordered his provincial governors to supply 40,000 workers each year for the construction.
Many workers died of illnesses due to working immersed in water at times. The site was marshland mainly and had to be drained.Scurvy and dysentery were common also. Foreign diplomats estimated that between 100,000 to 200,000 workers died during construction. The actual number may have been even greater.
Their Czar, Peter, did not let the deaths stop construction or trouble his mind. He put very little value on human lives in battle with foreign armies or in the construction of the new city.
I recommend reading Peter the Great. His life was and is still fascinating and terrifying!
❤️✝️✡️❤️
Peter built a new capital from nothing on boggy ground on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. At first he intended the site as a place that he could escape court life in Moscow and engage in sailing on the sea. Later, as the hamlet grew, he began to think that changing the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg would be instrumental in changing the hide-bound Russian ideas which looked mostly included past thinking and tradition.
During construction of St. Petersburg troops of workers were brought to work by force. Some were specialists, skilled workers, such as masons, carpenters,blacksmiths, etc.; some were unskilled workers. Some workers were employed for a few months and returned home. Others were requisitioned for their lifetime. In 1704 Peter ordered his provincial governors to supply 40,000 workers each year for the construction.
Many workers died of illnesses due to working immersed in water at times. The site was marshland mainly and had to be drained.Scurvy and dysentery were common also. Foreign diplomats estimated that between 100,000 to 200,000 workers died during construction. The actual number may have been even greater.
Their Czar, Peter, did not let the deaths stop construction or trouble his mind. He put very little value on human lives in battle with foreign armies or in the construction of the new city.
I recommend reading Peter the Great. His life was and is still fascinating and terrifying!
❤️✝️✡️❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2025
I dove into this biography immediately after finishing Robert Massie's Pulitzer prize winning "Peter the Great." I wanted more perspective, and a quick scan of the dust jacket of this book promised a much more scathing read on Czar Peter. I stayed for the scathing interpretation, and I found things to like about this book, but it pales in comparison. Troyat's bio moves quickly, at times almost superficially. He seems uninterested in providing more than a chronicle of events. As chronicles go, this book is an easy read, but provides little by way of analysis or wider cultural critique. In some ways, this book felt like it was intended as a kind of courtroom gossip column, and a times could probably be accused of scandalmongering. I would point out that the life of Peter the Great provides heaps of material for said scandalmongering, and as all is fair in love and war, and this book has much by way of both, I suppose i shouldn't complain.
This book made little attempt to illuminate the complex forces and decisions behind pivotal points in the narrative, so reading it immediately after Massie the whole thing felt a bit incomplete. This book rages about Peter, but accomplishes little.
This book made little attempt to illuminate the complex forces and decisions behind pivotal points in the narrative, so reading it immediately after Massie the whole thing felt a bit incomplete. This book rages about Peter, but accomplishes little.
June 28, 2019
One of the most engaging voices I've read in historical nonfiction. What a fun, wild read! Had to put the cover down a couple of times to stomach the gruesomeness of certain parts... only makes me feel thankful to be growing up in the 21st century.
September 17, 2017
An interesting book on the subject of a vile man. In reality, too few sources are extant to really write a review of this brutal man.
June 14, 2021
Wonder how Peter had the title of Great...other than as a terrorist~ horrid character.
January 30, 2025
Интересна👍
February 19, 2026
gelezen in NL.uitg. Gottmer 1986
June 9, 2023
Troyat writes in an engaging and engrossing way. Just as he did in his biography of Catherine the Great, you feel as if you are there watching these autocrats insist their will and in an equally polar mind, exact their affection. The pages are filled with opportunities to learn about Russia becaming a force in Baltic nations and her interactions with the west. You also witness the treatment of peasants who were sacrificed at will and/or for the purpose of a greater Russia (such as with the building of the city of St. Petersburg) One is left wondering if the erractic and fearful way that Peter I ruled was necessary to create a more modern Russia- did Russia & Russians need that firm grip in order to modernize? This is a well written and informative read!
March 1, 2020
Henri Troyat czyli Lew Asłanowicz Tarasow, francuski pisarz rosyjskiego pochodzenia, to autor kilku biografii rosyjskich władców, z którymi miałam możliwość się zapoznać. Niestety, żadna z nich nie zrobiła na mnie zbyt dobrego wrażenia. Autor sili się na "barwne" opisy, które momentami bywały dla mnie wręcz rażące, z daleka czuć swąd taniej sensacji :) W książkach historycznych cenię przede wszystkim rzetelność, rozrywkowość jest u mnie na ostatnim miejscu.
Dowiedziałam się jednak przy okazji, że Piotr Wielki był dentystą-amatorem:
"Będąc kiedyś świadkiem usuwania zębów w miejscu publicznym, tak się zapala do tej sztuki, że co prędzej uczy się jej podstaw i zbiera wszystkie narzędzia potrzebne do jej uprawiania. Odtąd patrzy na 250 członków swojej świty innym okiem. Poddani surowym oględzinom jamy ustnej mają zostać jego pacjentami. Jeśli ząb mu się wydaje choć trochę chory, to go wyrywa. Krzyki nieszczęśników bynajmniej nie powstrzymują cara, wręcz przeciwnie, zagrzewają go do tej czynności. Herkulesowa siła Piotra ułatwia mu zadanie. Nierzadko w swoim zapale wyrywa także kawałek dziąsła. Nikt nie ośmiela się protestować przeciwko tej monarszej agresji. [...] Przez całe życie Piotr będzie się uważał za świetnego dentystę. Chowa w saszetce wszystkie usunięte przez siebie zęby i często przygląda im się z dumą. Każdy ząb przypomina mu czyjąś twarz wykrzywioną bólem".
Tak właśnie wyglądają te "barwne opisy", które przekazywane z pokolenia na pokolenie urastają w końcu do rozmiarów wielkiej legendy ;) Pewnie o mnie też tak kiedyś będą mówić, że krzyki pacjentów zagrzewały mnie do walki, a każdy wyrwany ząb lubiłam sobie później oglądać, bo kojarzył mi się bardzo pozytywnie z czyjąś twarzą wykrzywioną bólem :D
5/10
Dowiedziałam się jednak przy okazji, że Piotr Wielki był dentystą-amatorem:
"Będąc kiedyś świadkiem usuwania zębów w miejscu publicznym, tak się zapala do tej sztuki, że co prędzej uczy się jej podstaw i zbiera wszystkie narzędzia potrzebne do jej uprawiania. Odtąd patrzy na 250 członków swojej świty innym okiem. Poddani surowym oględzinom jamy ustnej mają zostać jego pacjentami. Jeśli ząb mu się wydaje choć trochę chory, to go wyrywa. Krzyki nieszczęśników bynajmniej nie powstrzymują cara, wręcz przeciwnie, zagrzewają go do tej czynności. Herkulesowa siła Piotra ułatwia mu zadanie. Nierzadko w swoim zapale wyrywa także kawałek dziąsła. Nikt nie ośmiela się protestować przeciwko tej monarszej agresji. [...] Przez całe życie Piotr będzie się uważał za świetnego dentystę. Chowa w saszetce wszystkie usunięte przez siebie zęby i często przygląda im się z dumą. Każdy ząb przypomina mu czyjąś twarz wykrzywioną bólem".
Tak właśnie wyglądają te "barwne opisy", które przekazywane z pokolenia na pokolenie urastają w końcu do rozmiarów wielkiej legendy ;) Pewnie o mnie też tak kiedyś będą mówić, że krzyki pacjentów zagrzewały mnie do walki, a każdy wyrwany ząb lubiłam sobie później oglądać, bo kojarzył mi się bardzo pozytywnie z czyjąś twarzą wykrzywioną bólem :D
5/10
July 27, 2014
This is the second Troyat biography I've read, the other being Ivan the Terrible. I found it very readable and informative, though it would be much better if it had a map or three. I also find it a stretch to be told what various indivuals were thinking at different specific moments, which seems to me to be beyond what can be known for certain. Having read no other biographies of Peter the Great and knowing little about him before reading this, I can't say if this is one of the better ones, but it held my interest from the very beginning, the kind of book that is hard to turn away, though at times it's the kind of satisfaction or curiostiy that comes of watching a snake eat a bird.
June 17, 2008
Good read on Russia in the 1700's.
May 12, 2016
Interesting note, Everything that Peter did was for the greater glory of Russia with little care for the impact of his policies on his people. The people for the most part accepted their lot.
February 17, 2010
I learned how brutal life was in Russia in the 1700's!!! Ugh!
July 12, 2016
Чете се лесно. Приятно.
April 3, 2017
You just can't stop reading it at the end! Henri Troyat was the first writer that hooked me with the historical novels.
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