She was born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst in 1729. She died Yekaterina II Velikaya in 1796. And in between, she left a great impression on the world as empress of Russia.

Catherine the Great, as she has come to be known to the world's English speakers, has been the subject of many books--nearly 5,000, according to Amazon.com. And now she has a role in a newly published history book, Jay Winik's "The Great Upheaval: America and the Birth of the Modern World, 1788-1800."

Catherine didn't, at her birth, seem destined for greatness. Her father governed a small corner of Prussia that is now part of Poland. But when the powers of the era decided that Prussia and Russia needed a closer alliance, they picked Catherine--then Sophie--to be the wife of the German-born grandson of Peter the Great. Peter III wasn't terribly popular as a ruler of Russia and when he was booted out in a coup and killed, Catherine--who may or may not have orchestrated the move--got the top job.

But over 34 years she rose to the occasion, expanding Russia's territory and its reach in politics and culture. If you got to stop at the Hermitage during your adoption journey in Russia, you saw an art collection that began as Catherine's personal gallery.

Winik's new book focuses on the American Revolution, and how it reverberated in Poland and France. Catherine, who read and admired the same philosophers who had inspired the writers of America's Constitution, aided their cause mostly by not aiding the British. But when the spirit of revolution got closer to home, Catherine showed less enlightenment and quickly quelled the quest for political freedoms.

The book has gotten mixed reviews, mostly for choppy writing. One review also thought Winik had overstated Catherine's role in events. But if you've got a long plane ride to Russia coming up, you might want to take this along to read.

Image credit: 1way2rock

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