Robert K. Massie Livres

Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Peter the Great, who embodied the greatest strengths and weaknesses of Russia

In August 1914 the two greatest navies in the world confronted each other across the North Sea. Castles of Steel is a book about leadership and command, bravery and timidity, genius and folly, qualities which are of course displayed magnificently by Robert K.

A gripping chronicle of the personal and national rivalries that led to the twentieth century’s first great arms race, this work by Pulitzer Prize winner Robert K. Massie showcases his rare talent for capturing extraordinary lives. He vividly portrays a cast of influential figures, including the determined Admiral von Tirpitz, the ambitious Winston Churchill, the cunning Chancellor Bernhard von Bülow, Britain’s esteemed foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey, and the innovative Admiral Jacky Fisher, who transformed the British navy with the H.M.S. Dreadnought. Their intertwined stories reflect an era marked by misunderstandings and missed opportunities, unfolding like a Greek tragedy in a powerful narrative. The book is both intimate and dramatic, presenting history in its most riveting form. Praise highlights its grand storytelling, with Time noting it as history shaped by individuals, while the Chicago Sun-Times calls it a classic that superbly encapsulates an entire era through its captivating characters. The Wall Street Journal commends Massie's grand scale and masterful historical portraiture, and the Los Angeles Times praises his evocative detail in nautical themes, making this work a compelling exploration of a pivotal moment in history.

The compelling quest to solve a great mystery of the twentieth century: the ultimate fate of Russia's last tsar and his family. In July 1991, nine skeletons were exhumed from a shallow grave near Ekaterinburg, Siberia, a few miles from the infamous cellar where the last tsar and his family had been murdered seventy-three years before. Were these the bones of the Romanovs? If so, why were the bones of the two younger Romanovs missing? Was Anna Anderson, celebrated in newspapers, books, and film, really Grand Duchess Anastasia? This book unearths the truth. Pulitzer Prize winner Robert K. Massie presents a colourful panorama of contemporary characters, illuminating the major scientific dispute between Russian experts and a team of Americans, whose findings – along with those of DNA scientists from Russia, America, and the UK – all contributed to solving one of history's most intriguing mysteries.

A “magnificent and intimate” (Harper’s) modern classic of Russian history, the spellbinding story of the love that ended an empire—from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Peter the Great, The Romanovs, and Catherine the Great “A moving, rich book . . . [This] revealing, densely documented account of the last Romanovs focuses not on the great events . . . but on the royal family and their evil nemesis. . . . The tale is so bizarre, no melodrama is equal to it.”—Newsweek In this commanding book, New York Times bestselling author Robert K. Massie sweeps readers back to the extraordinary world of the Russian empire to tell the story of the Romanovs’ lives: Nicholas’s political naïveté, Alexandra’s obsession with the corrupt mystic Rasputin, and little Alexis’s brave struggle with hemophilia. Against a lavish backdrop of luxury and intrigue, Massie unfolds a powerful drama of passion and history—the story of a doomed empire and the death-marked royals who watched it crumble.

A tale of power, perseverance, and passion unfolds through the extraordinary life of an obscure German princess who became one of history's most remarkable and captivating women. Born into a minor noble family, she transformed herself into empress of Russia through sheer determination. For thirty-four years, she wielded control over the government, foreign policy, cultural development, and the welfare of the Russian people, navigating domestic rebellion, foreign wars, and the upheaval caused by the French Revolution. The narrative vividly brings to life her family, friends, ministers, generals, lovers, and enemies, showcasing a story richer than most in history. This compelling portrait reveals not only a Russian titan but also a flesh-and-blood woman, offering an absorbing and satisfying biography. Critics have praised it as juicy and suspenseful, with a great life irresistibly told. It has been recognized as one of the best books of the year by numerous esteemed publications, highlighting its significance and impact. The book promises to return to life an eternally fascinating figure, making it a must-read for those interested in powerful women and historical narratives.

Figes reconstructs a heroic and touching love story that occurred in the midst of one of Stalin's most notorious work camps, drawing on personal letters, KGB archives and recent interviews to brilliantly illustrate the broader world in which their story unfolded.

Massie jest mistrzem historycznej opowieści, imponuje niesamowitym literackim rzemiosłem… Max Boot, The New York Times Book Review Przedstawił każdą postać z artystyczną wizją pisarza… napisana z pasją opowieść o ludziach z epoki pierwszej wojny światowej… The Waszyngton Post Book World Wspaniałe, niewyobrażalne osiągnięcie …Książka napisana lekkim, świetnie się czytającym stylem oparta na benedyktyńskiej pracy historyka... Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Żywy opis postaci i wydarzeń… mistrz gawędziarstwa… w tym rodzaju historycznego pisarstwa wątpię, by Massie miał sobie równego Paul Kennedy, Los Angeles Time Book Reviev Półmisek wypełniony smakowitymi opisami postaci. Wielka, wspaniała lektura… New York Post Robert K. Massie Urodzony w 1929 roku w Lexington. Studiował na Uniwersytecie w Yale i Oxfordzie, dziennikarz, zdobywca Nagrody Pulitzera, jeden z najpoczytniejszych współczesnych pisarzy historycznych na świecie. „Stalowe Fortece” są kontynuacją świetnego „Dreadnoughta” wydanego przed kilku laty w Polsce.