the winter palace a novel of catherine the great

Royals to stay afloat in a world of intrigue and ever increasing Use her wits and skills that she hones over years of service to the Serving the Empress Elizabeth, Varvara is used by both of her mistresses,Īnd other monarchs of the court to their own selfish means. The Russian court in the eighteenth century.įiercely loyal to Sophie while still faithfully Witness not just the story of how Princess Sophie became EmpressĬatherine it also shows us much of the reign of Empress Elizabeth and TrainedĪs a spy for Elizabeth, Varvara’s viewpoint allows us to It’s told from the perspective of Varvara Nikolayevna, a young Polish orphan who is put in Empress Elizabeth’s care after her father dies. But it’s the point of view that, in my mind, makes the story. The Winter Palace tells the story of Catherine the Great’s rise to power. Sadly, though, I haven’t read much about her since then, so you can imagine my excitement when last year, there were a few books released about her.

My thoughts: Ever since having to write a paper on her in a college history class, I’ve been intrigued by Catherine the Great. Women will rise to the pinnacle of absolute power. Varvara will become Sophie’s confidante-and together the two young Who knows the traps, the conspiracies, and the treacheries that surround What Sophie needs is an insider at court, a loyal pair of eyes and ears The Empress’s nephew, but she has loftier, more dangerous ambitions. Zerbst named Sophie, a playful teenager destined to become the That opportunity arrives in a slender young princess from Picking to lovemaking, learning above all else to listen-and to wait for Under the tutelage of Count Bestuzhev,Ĭhancellor and spymaster, Varvara will be educated in skills from lock Nimble-witted and attentive, she’s allowed into theĮmploy of the Empress Elizabeth, amid the glitter and cruelty of the First line: The spies you learn about are either those who get exposed or those who reveal themselves.įrom the back cover: Her name is Barbara-in

The winter palace a novel of catherine the great