Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Peter the Great:
He was enlightened and a drunk. A man after my own heart.
Quick synopsis:
A (very, very) in depth biography of Peter the Great of Russia.
Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like:
Peter took what might be the first “gap year” ever. In 1697, he took a group of Russians on an 18-month tour of Europe under an assumed name. He demanded to be treated as a commoner and even was a shipbuilder for a time. Most people had a good idea who he was at the government level, but he just seemed like a tall Russian to everyone else.
Fun Fact for History Nerds:
Peter the Great was a co-regent for the first 7 years of his reign. He and his half-brother, Ivan V, ruled together, although Ivan was mentally incompetent.
My Take on Peter the Great:
Peter the Great is one of those historical figures who earned his epithet many times over. The dude was interesting and unlike many “great” figures who do a lot of things but leave no lasting legacy, Peter changed Russia permanently and in numerous ways.
Let’s start with the first, and perhaps most interesting, fact about Peter. He was actually a co-regent with his half-brother who had severe physical and mental disabilities. If you know anything about history, then you know the simple answer is to kill your rival. Peter’s didn’t, however. In fact, he is reported to have been rather kind to his half-brother who would die of natural causes at 29.
Peter’s violent upbringing convinced him that Russia needed to modernize if it were ever to be taken seriously in the world. Peter was the type who didn’t just order people around. He would practice what he preached. He began his military career at the lowest level and earned his way up. Dressing like a non-royal, he learned to build ships with his own hands. He was extraordinary.
He was also a drunk and unbelievably cruel when he wanted to be. People who challenged Peter were not merely neutralized. Peter crushed them into oblivion.
Massie is one of the world’s experts on Russian history and his book reflects it. It is a gigantic work but worth the time to read.
Verdict:
For me, it is the definitive work on Peter the Great. Buy it here!
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