Andrew Z’s Reviews > The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1733 - 1795: Light and Flame > Status Update

Being sick seems to have increased my reading speed

- The Constitution of 3 May establishes a constitutional monarchy based on republican principles - debates are so complex and spirited, I don’t think I remember half of the information in this chapter or in any of the previous chapters.
- Poland is without any allies against Russia; the czarina Catherine the Great is furious about the new constitution and starts war with Poland
- The Polish king capitulates to Russia

I read a little past that, this is just the last page number I remember stopping on

Only took me an hour to read 25 pages…
- questions about political reforms which are still relevant today (a big part of why I’m reading this)
- the king consolidates power, meanwhile an opposition faction emerges that is more loyal to Russia
- religious reforms and toleration are a stabilizing influence, rural communities grow

the next chapter is about Warsaw. it’s nice to read about the flourishing of art there!

So I guess I like reading about history and I was always interested in learning more about Poland-Lithuania, especially because of the fact that it had an early form of parliamentary democracy. Fascinating to read about the emergence of the commonwealth, although its existence was so fleeting. The partition of Poland in the late 1700s is already being discussed not even 1/3 of the way into the book.

So I guess I like reading about history and I was always interested in learning more about Poland-Lithuania… a country that was actually two or three countries, with an early form of parliamentary democracy… What’s not to like? Fascinating to read about the emergence of the commonwealth, although its existence was so fleeting. The partition of Poland is already being discussed not even 1/3 of the way into the book.