Peter I

The biography of Peter the Great, the reformer of Russia, written by the prominent domestic historian N. I. Pavlenko, is rightly recognized as a classic of the biographical genre. It is based on strict documentary evidence, utilizing all available sources, and yet it is read in one breath, akin to a well-crafted historical novel. The personality of Peter I, perhaps like no other statesman in the history of Russia, continues to ignite fierce debates: were his famous reforms a blessing or a tragedy for Russia? The author of the book provides his answer to this question, revealing to the reader all aspects of the multifaceted, truly titanic activities of the reforming tsar.