I am currently reading

[Texasgal]

The story of Catherine The Great.

What a strong Women and a complete bad ass she was!

From Biography.com

Catherine is often better remembered for her romantic liaisons than her many accomplishments. Historians have also criticized her for not improving the lives of serfs, who were the majority of the Russian population. Still, Catherine made some significant contributions to Russia. She brought educational reforms and championed the arts. As the country's leader, Catherine also helped Russia become a great power, extending its borders through military might and diplomatic prowess.

I highly recommend this book!

[seabeyond]

1. this is so much fun. i just read about a great woman of the 60's. now this.

50 Women who Changed the World

12. Catherine the Great 1729-1796

One of the greatest political leaders of the eighteenth century. Catherine the great was said to have played an important role in improving the lot of the Russian serfs. She placed great emphasis on the arts and helped to cement Russia as one of the dominant countries in Europe. Biography of Catherine the Great

http://www.biographyonline.net/people/women-who-changed-world.html


Catherine the Great Facts:

Dates: April 21, 1729 - November 17, 1796
Known for: Empress of Russia (June 28, 1762 - November 17, 1796). She's known in history as Catherine the Great -- modeled after Peter the Great -- though she eschewed the title in her lifetime.

Catherine the Great Biography:

Born a princess in Germany, Catherine the Great converted to Orthodoxy and was married to the heir to the Russian throne, the Grand Duke Peter of Holstein, grandson of Peter the Great. Though Catherine the Great had the support of Peter's mother, the Empress Elizabeth, she disliked her husband and helped engineer his removal from the throne. She took power as Tsarina or Queen, calling herself Catherine II. Soon after, she may have been behind Peter's death.
During her reign, Catherine the Great expanded Russia's borders to the Black Sea and into central Europe. She promoted westernization and modernization though within the context of her autocratic control over Russia and increasing the control of landed gentry over serfs. Catherine the Great promoted education and the Enlightenment among the elite. She kept up a correspondence with many figures of the Enlightenment in Europe.

Catherine the Great is often remembered for her many lovers. She came to the throne with her lover Count Gregory Orlov's active support; while remaining committed to him she also took many other lovers.

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/catherinegreat/p/catherinegreat.htm

[Texasgal]

2. Love how she ruled

without a man at the helm, especially in those times when Women were treated like chattel.

The book focus's alot on her salacious affairs. I love it! She was a Women who was comfortable with herself and didn't care what others thought.

Good stuff... a page turner!

[TorchTheWitch]

3. what's the name of the book?

I'll be finished with my current one a few days and was contemplating what to get next at the library.

Right now I'm re-reading The Six Wives of Henry VIII... I particularly like Anne Boleyn. Another very intelligent ambitious woman that despite the times created lasting change in Britain manipulating the king to break from the stranglehold of the Roman church.

So far I haven't read very much on Catherine the Great. I know some general stuff, but not very much.

You know something just dawned on me... I was in high school in the late 70's/early '80's and took lots of various history classes since I've always enjoyed history, but looking back it occurs to me that there was never even one historic female that was studied, and even when they couldn't get around a great historic female in order to discuss a certain point or subject in history the females were glossed over and either portrayed as crazy, evil or both.

[Texasgal]

4. I guess it would have been better

for me to give you the name of the book! LOL!

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman. by Robert K. Massie

I am almost done, it is soooo good.

[Tumbulu]

5. I am reading "Black Milk" by Elif Shafak

and it is a fascinating book - with a lot of history about women writers and quite a bit of history of feminism.

I really enjoy her books, this is the third one that I have read and so far, this is the most interesting. I am not finished with it yet, but am enjoying following her life story.

[Texasgal]

6. That sounds quite interesting

I've just finished my book... I'll check this one out now. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Tumbulu]

7. She is a writer of fiction

but this chronicles her change in life from single woman writer and scholar through getting married and having a baby and then suffering from writers block and postpartum depression. But it is written is such a splendid way...she reminds me a little of Annie Lamont, but she is from Turkey (raised by a single feminist mom and a mystical healer grandmother...) and has lived in so many places and this book is a fascinating travel journal as well....

And as usual for her she approaches it with extreme imagination.

The personal histories of the women writers - how they lived and what decisions they made about having or not having children is quite fascinating to me.

I had to get it on Amazon, it was not a big seller, but it should have been.

[Vanje]

8. Return to Coatlicue

I've only just started, but it is about folklore, history, and the role of women in Mexico.

Like it so far!