Peter the Great : a biography /
"This, the shorter biography of Peter the Great (1672-1725), tells his story from birth to death in twelve chapters, including two final chapters on the Tsar's legacy and posthumous reputation up to the present, with the aim of providing a vivid sense of the dynamics of his life and reign:...
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| Format: | eBook Electronic |
| Language: | English |
| Language notes: | English. |
| Imprint: | New Haven : Yale University Press, [2002] |
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| Online Access: | Click here for full text at JSTOR |
| Summary: | "This, the shorter biography of Peter the Great (1672-1725), tells his story from birth to death in twelve chapters, including two final chapters on the Tsar's legacy and posthumous reputation up to the present, with the aim of providing a vivid sense of the dynamics of his life and reign: The focus is firmly on the dramatic, appealing and unconventional figure of Peter himself: his actions, deliberations, decisions, relationships, tastes and possessions. It includes the more bizarre aspects of his character, such as his interest in dwarfs, the use of disguises, clowning and vandalism. The main sources are Peter's letters and papers, both published and unpublished, as well as other contemporary accounts and documents." "The narrative comprises both the public and private life, the life Peter lived as well as his significant fantasy world. Hughes offers fascinating new material on the 'alternative' or 'parallel' history of Peter's many disguises and pseudonyms, his deference to a number of mock superiors, and his relationships with individuals such as his second wife Catherine and his favourite Alexander Menshikov." "In each chapter Hughes explores Peter's image in painting and sculpture, bringing the story to the present day with a discussion of controversial monuments in Moscow and St. Petersburg."--Jacket The definitive short biography of the enigmatic Peter the Great <br> <br> Peter the Great (1672-1725), tsar of Russia for forty-three years, was a dramatic, appealing, and unconventional character. This book provides a vivid sense of the dynamics of his life--both public and private--and his reign.<br> <br> Drawing on his letters and papers, as well as on other contemporary accounts, the book provides new insights into Peter's complex character, giving information on his actions, deliberations, possessions, and significant fantasy world--his many disguises and pseudonyms, his interest in dwarfs, his clowning and vandalism. It also sheds fresh light on his relationships with individuals such as his second wife Catherine and his favorite, Alexander Menshikov. The book includes discussions of Peter's image in painting and sculpture, and there are two final chapters on his legacy and posthumous reputation up to the present. |
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| Item Description: | Print version record. |
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (xv, 285 pages, 16 unnumbered pages) : illustrations, map |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-274) and index. |
| ISBN: | 0300143745 9780300143744 |
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