Reprint. Originally published: New York : Knopf, 1980.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part One: Old Muscovy. Old Muscovy -- Peter's childhood -- "A maiden of great intelligence" -- The revolt of the Streltsy -- The great schism -- Peter's games -- The regency of Sophia -- Sophia overthrown -- Gordon, Lefort and the jolly company -- Archangel -- Azov --

Part Two: The great embassy. The great embassy to Western Europe -- "It is impossible to describe him" -- Peter in Holland -- The Prince of Orange -- Peter in England -- Leopold and Augustus -- "These things are in your way" -- Fire and Knout -- Among friends -- Voronezh and the Southern fleet --

Part Three: The great northern war -- Mistress of the north -- Let the cannon decide -- Charles XII -- Narva -- "We must not lose our heads" -- The founding of St. Petersburg -- Menshikov and Catherine -- The hand of the autocrat -- Polish quagmire -- Charles in Saxony -- The great road to Moscow -- Golovchin and Lesnaya -- Mazeppa -- The worst winter within memory -- The gathering of forces -- Poltava -- Surrender by the river -- The fruits of Poltava --

Part Four: On the European stage -- The Sultans' world -- Liberator of the Balkan Christians -- Fifty blows on the Pruth -- The German campaign and Frederick William -- The coast of Finland -- The Kalabalik -- Venice of the North -- An ambassador reports -- The second journey west -- "The King is a might man ..." -- A visitor in Paris -- The education of an heir -- A paternal ultimatum -- Flight of the tsarevich -- The future on trial -- Charles' last offensive -- King George enters the Baltic -- Victory --

Part Five: The new Russia -- In the service of the state -- Commerce by decree -- Supreme under God -- The emperor in St. Petersburg -- Along the Caspian -- Twilight -- Epilogue.

Massie brings to life one the great titans of history in this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography.

Pulitzer Prize, Biography, 1981.