Deborah’s Comments (group member since Sep 14, 2016)

Deborah’s comments from the Crossroads group.

Denizen wrote: "It sounds intriguing, Deborah. Who else is in your badass series? I would assume Elizabeth.

Any recommendations for good HF on Catherine?"

Denizen, this one looks really good:The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great

Denizen wrote: "It sounds intriguing, Deborah. Who else is in your badass series? I would assume Elizabeth.

Any recommendations for good HF on Catherine?"

Another "badass" is indeed Elizabeth I. One of my favorites who I discovered recently is La Maupin; see my review of Goddess

I actually have not read any historical fiction with Catherine II as the subject....must look into that...she is fascinating.

Blueberry wrote: "One of my very favorite books ever is City of Thieves by David Benioff, set in Russia during the siege of Leningrad."

That book is awesome....found it in my son's room, he had to read it for history. I stole it and devoured it.

Karin wrote: "Interesting. She is the one who promised my ancestors great land and then reneged on it. Those were the German/Prussian Mennonites in the 18th century (shocking, I know, as that was during her life..."

That is interesting. Many of the reforms and policies she tried to implement were blocked by the various factions in her court. This included land reform and abolishment of serfdom. I don't recall the Mennonites being mentioned in the text, but it seems very likely that an offer such as this would have been fought by the nobility, who had great interest in maintaining the status quo of keeping the land in their own hands, complete with "built in" workers who they owned like slaves.

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

Several years ago, I attended an exhibit in Washington D.C. of the many treasures of Catherine the Great. I came away from that display intrigued by what I had seen, with a desire to learn more about this female pillar of history. Robert K. Massie's thoroughly absorbing biography provided that knowledge and more.

Catherine was born a princess of a minor German noble house. At birth, she was known as Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg. At the age of fourteen, accompanied by her mother, she journeyed to Russia, where she would reside, and eventually rule, for the rest of her life.

At the age of sixteen, Sophie converted to Russian Orthodoxy, was renamed Catherine, and married the Empress Elizabeth's nephew, Peter. Although Peter was the heir to the Russian empire, he lacked many capacities, both mentally and physically. The future Tsar Peter III played with toy soldiers and could not consummate his marriage to Catherine. This inability began the cycle of "favorites," men who provided Catherine with love, affection, heirs, and an empire.

Overthrowing the incompetent Peter III by a coup d'etat; Catherine became Empress of all the Russias. Thus began an illustrious 34 year reign. Viewing her rule through a 21st century lens would not be appropriate. She is to be appreciated for what she was at the time: Matuschka, the mother of her people; collector of fine art, a follower (although unfortunately not a practitioner, due to political factions) of the Enlightenment, a builder of empire, cities, and military. She was also a foreign born woman who was able to draw her adopted country behind her; overthrow her own husband; bear three children by three fathers while unmarried, later putting one of them on the throne. It is amazing to realize that her rule began before the revolution that formed the United States, which still has not had a female president.

I consider this book to be one of my "Badass Women of History" series. What a woman!!

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

Several years ago, I attended an exhibit in Washington D.C. of the many treasures of Catherine the Great. I came away from that display intrigued by what I had seen, with a desire to learn more about this female pillar of history. Robert K. Massie's thoroughly absorbing biography provided that knowledge and more.

Catherine was born a princess of a minor German noble house. At birth, she was known as Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg. At the age of fourteen, accompanied by her mother, she journeyed to Russia, where she would reside, and eventually rule, for the rest of her life.

At the age of sixteen, Sophie converted to Russian Orthodoxy, was renamed Catherine, and married the Empress Elizabeth's nephew, Peter. Although Peter was the heir to the Russian empire, he lacked many capacities, both mentally and physically. The future Tsar Peter III played with toy soldiers and could not consummate his marriage to Catherine. This inability began the cycle of "favorites," men who provided Catherine with love, affection, heirs, and an empire.

Overthrowing the incompetent Peter III by a coup d'etat; Catherine became Empress of all the Russias. Thus began an illustrious 34 year reign. Viewing her rule through a 21st century lens would not be appropriate. She is to be appreciated for what she was at the time: Matuschka, the mother of her people; collector of fine art, a follower (although unfortunately not a practitioner, due to political factions) of the Enlightenment, a builder of empire, cities, and military. She was also a foreign born woman who was able to draw her adopted country behind her; overthrow her own husband; bear three children by three fathers while unmarried, later putting one of them on the throne. It is amazing to realize that her rule began before the revolution that formed the United States, which still has not had a female president.

I consider this book to be one of my "Badass Women of History" series. What a woman!!

I just left St. Petersburg, Russia, after finishing Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

Storyheart wrote: "Welcome back, Deborah."

I was really missing Crossroads.

Denizen wrote: "Hello, Deborah! Good to see you back and hope you enjoy GR."

I have really missed Shelfari and Crossroads...I'm really bummed that I missed the window to import my Shelfari stuff. Still learning my way around here....

Blueberry wrote: "Deborah it has been awhile, right? You disappeared when we were on Shelfari and I remember posting if any what knew where you were. Glad to see you back."

Blueberry wrote: "Deborah it has been awhile, right? You disappeared when we were on Shelfari and I remember posting if any what knew where you were. Glad to see you back."

Blueberry wrote: "Deborah it has been awhile, right? You disappeared when we were on Shelfari and I remember posting if any what knew where you were. Glad to see you back."

Yes, Blueberry, I got offline regarding books for a while as I was really concentrating on finding a job. Then, that job was really restrictive regarding computer use. I could never get online at home due to the kids and dreary things like preparing dinner....but I'm happy to be back! Still finding my way around

Hey Crossroads! I'm back! It's Deborah B! I guess I'm too late to import my Shelfari books, so I'll have to start repopulating my books...I have missed you all, and look forward to making new friends....