About
"Catherine the Great" by Katharine Susan Anthony is a historical biography written in the early 20th century. It follows the transformation of Sophie “Fike” of Anhalt-Zerbst into Catherine II against a vivid backdrop of Prussian austerity and Russian court turmoil. The focus blends intimate childhood formation with high political intrigue, showing how a little-known German princess was drawn into the orbit of the Romanov dynasty.
The opening of the biography sketches Stettin’s harsh, militarized world and introduces Fike’s parents: a frugal, pious Prussian general and an ambitious, socially hungry Holstein-Gottorp princess. It traces Fike’s neglected yet formative upbringing under the clear-eyed French governess Babet Cardel and the dogmatic Pastor Wagner; her plain looks, calculated self-discipline, and skepticism; and a bout of illness that led to a crude but effective “cure,” shaping her lifelong distrust of doctors. The narrative widens to a brisk survey of Russian power: from Pet
Source and licence
This work is public domain or openly licensed. The licence terms are published by the source.
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