The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great

By Eva Stachniak

From award-winning author Eva Stachniak comes this passionate novel that tells the epic story of Catherine the Great’s improbable rise to power—as seen through the ever-watchful eyes of an all-but-invisible servant close to the throne.
 
Her name is Barbara—in Russian, Varvara. Nimble-witted and attentive, she’s allowed into the employ of the Empress Elizabeth, amid the glitter and cruelty of the world’s most eminent court. Under the tutelage of Count Bestuzhev, Chancellor and spymaster, Varvara will be educated in skills from lock picking to lovemaking, learning above all else to listen—and to wait for opportunity. That opportunity arrives in a slender young princess from Zerbst named Sophie, a playful teenager destined to become the indomitable Catherine the Great. Sophie’s destiny at court is to marry the Empress’s nephew, but she has loftier, more dangerous ambitions. What Sophie needs is an insider at court, a loyal pair of eyes and ears who knows the traps, the conspiracies, and the treacheries that surround her. Varvara will become Sophie’s confidante—and together the two young women will rise to the pinnacle of absolute power.
 
“A majestic and splendidly written tale of pride, passion, intrigue, and deceit that is brought alive from the first page to the last.”—Rosalind Laker

“At the same time baroque and intimate, worldly and domestic, wildly strange and soulfully familiar, The Winter Palace offers a flickering glimpse of history through the gauze of deft entertainment.”—The Washington Post
 
“A thrilling point of view . . . Readers are treated to a firsthand account of the young princess’s slow ascent to the throne, a path deliciously strewn with discarded lovers and sanguine court intrigues.”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune
 
“[A] brilliant, bold historical novel . . . This superb biographical epic proves the Tudors don’t have a monopoly on marital scandal, royal intrigue, or feminine triumph.”—Booklist (starred review)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9780553908046

Eva Stachniak

Eva Stachniak was born in Wroclaw, Poland. She moved to Canada in 1981 and has worked for Radio Canada International and Sheridan College, where she taught English and humanities. Her first novel of Catherine the Great, The Winter Palace was a #1 international bestseller and was followed by another Catherine the Great novel Empress of the Night, also a bestseller. She lives in Toronto.

Reviews for The Winter Palace

[mhanover10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another book that solidifies that I would never want to live back in this time. I don't know if I could survive. There is so much mistrust and deceit. Eva Stachniak brings to life a small time in Catherine the Great's life through the eyes of the daughter of a book binder who is orphaned after both her parents die close together. It's about survival and how all parties will stop at nothing to survive. Knowing this is based on history makes me shake my head. The more I read historical fiction the more I realize people didn't trust anyone.

[scot2-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good book about life in the Winter Palace. Catherine isn't really the most important character in this story which is told from the viewpoint of a palace maid. We learn about the intrigue and subterfuge that occurred within the palace and about how people could be used and discarded when the empress listened to the gossip of her spies.

[lineells · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love reading Russian history and it is authors like Stachniak that make me crave even more. Written in novel from ,The Winter Palace is informative while maintaining intrigue and interest.Catherine was a unique, intelligent, special woman and it took someone like her to rule over a country like Russia during these times of subterfuge and spies. I THINK we could use someone just like her NOW.

[lissabeth21 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This engaging story of the Russian court during the reign of Elizabeth and then Catherine the Great is told through the eyes of a young palace girl, growing up alongside Catherine. She is pushed and pulled in many directions, being carried along the tides of palace politics and intrigues. The first person narrative gives a unique view of the Russian Imperial Family and the many historic events taking place during this time. I really enjoyed this book and am interested to see how Eva Stachniak will continue the story in her next book.

[carolee888 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very engrossing and exciting historical fiction read set in the 1700's in Russia. As `The Winter Palace' by Eva Straniak opens in 1743, we meet the young girl, Varvara or Barbara and her father, a Polish bookbinder. And we learn the story of how she became a "tongue" or spy for the Chancellor of Russia and later for Empress `Elizabeth the Merciful'. Since Varvara had lost her mother earlier and her father was worried about what would become of if he died, her father slowly worked his way into the graces of Empress Elizabeth. He requested that she take care of his child if he died and the Empress agreed. The Russian palaces were built for intrigue and spying with secret chambers, hidden hallways and tiny crannies to squeeze into. Varvara is determined not to be stuck sewing, a skill that she has no talent for, so she works hers way into something more important and is recruited by the Chancellor who puts her through a spy training school with an emphasis on noticing detail and not trusting anyone, even the Chancellor. She is later assigned to be a spy on the German Princess Sophie who would later become Catherine the Great. A great friendship forms between Varvara and Sophie, but can Varvara trust this girl of fourteen. From the page one, I did not want to lay this book down. Eva Stachniak writes with clarity and keeps you very interested until the last page. You get a real feel for the amount, methods and preciseness of the spying in the palaces. I really cared about Varvara and admired her independence and determination. The book ends before the historic story has closed. The author is currently working on a book about Catherine the Great that will come out soon. I definitely want to read that one and I hope that there will be more about Varvara in it. I learned about food in the courts and elsewhere, the dress of the commoners and the royalty, the constant gossip, extravagance of clothing and jewels that Empress Elizabeth lived with. Also what the Grand Duke was like, physically, his manner and his likes and dislikes. He was to be Catherine the great's betrothed and the other men in Catherine's life. All historical fiction fans need to read this book. It will take you inside the life of the palaces in the 1740 to 1764 in Russia. You can smell the treachery, the heartache of love, disappointments, betrayals and opulence of court living. I received this book from Amazon's Vine program but that in no way influenced my review of this book.

[yarrow_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

(Mild spoilers): I was looking forward to this a lot, but in the end it left me cold. Ostensibly a historical novel about Catherine the Great, you never really learnt anything about Catherine's character, motives or feelings, since she's always hiding her true intentions. Moreover, you never felt that the main character, Varvara, was in all that much peril, and the big twist/betrayal at the end was laughably mundane. A fantastic sense of setting and place would have made up for this, but there wasn't one.

[visuallibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

History fiction lovers will find this book a good and quick read.

[cyderry · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I knew basically nothing about Catherine the Great when I started this book, and I feel that I am still in that same spot after finishing it. This fictional account was from the viewpoint of a trusted servant (more of the book seemed to be about her than Catherine) telling of Sophie's arrival (her name was changed to Catherine) at the Russian court until her assumption of the throne. It meandered, never really settling into a colorful narrative. I definitely wouldn't recommend it.

[kakadoo202 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

since I booked a trip to St Petersburg, I thought this would be a nice preparation but in the end the book fell flat to my expectations. While a nice read, there was no depth.

[karenherndon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oh, I loved this book. Historical fiction told by a fictional servant ( who eventually became a countess) of Catherine the Great from her time of first arrival in Russia to her becoming Empress. Very well written. Didnt want to put it down and sad it ended. Author is supposed to write another saga of Catherine. - I definitely will be looking out for it!

[cattriona · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of the early days of Catherine the Great, told from the point of view of one of her handmaidens. It is an interesting story, particularly the early details in which the narrator is taught how to spy on other members so she may report back on their activities to Catherine and the Empress, Elizabeth. There are many rich, historical details to appeal to fans of this genre, and the story ends with a balance of closure, and sufficient intrigue for a sequel, which is currently in the works. Characters are well drawn, and the setting is well-researched. Highly recommended.

[sandra.k.heinzman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book! Makes me want to read more about Catherine. There is a sequel I will read, too.

[panopticon2_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story of a upwardly-mobile Polish bookbinder's daughter, who finds herself attending the young Catherine the Great as the "tongue" of the Russian Empress Elizabeth, is everything a historical novel should be. It's well-researched, beautifully detailed, and suspensefully plotted. I attended a reading of this novel last year by the Polish-Canadian author, and was impressed.

[lisa.schureman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent & gripping! You feel like you're the proverbial fly on the wall hearing and seeing all that's going on in the corrupt & paranoid court of the Empress Elizabeth. There author maintains the tension throughout the book but keeps you engaged even though you know Catherine pulls off a palace coup and winds up as Empress. I had often wondered how the Amber Room could just disappear during World War II, here we learn that it was in panels and when Empress Elizabeth so chose she could move it from one palace to the next. It was also a great mental visual when the servants were polishing the grand dining table by walking on it with felt slippers. Ready for the sequel!

[cygnet81 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Full of intrigue.

[donagiles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Story told by young girl orphined and sent to serve in Russha's Palace, she witnesses the rise of Catherine to the throne of all of Russia. Full of conspiracies and intrege . Always someone spieing on every one. Who is loyal to whom. A lot of details about life at the times.. Lots of research went into this book.

[carpe_librum · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak is an historical fiction novel set in Russia during the rise of Catherine the Great.Court life during the period (1730s - 1760s) is seen through the eyes of Varvara, servant and spy to Empress Elizabeth of Russia. Daughter of Peter the Great, the Empress is brilliantly portrayed as a vain and eccentric woman, taking many lovers and always surrounded by her cats when Varvara arrives at the palace as a newly orphaned young girl just trying to survive.Prior to picking up this novel by Eva Stachniak, my knowledge of this period in Russia was limited, although I was inspired to find out more, learning the Winter Palace (of the title) is real and the novel is based on historical fact.Although the title states that The Winter Palace is A Novel of Catherine The Great, I personally found it was Varvara's story first, Empress Elizabeth's second and Catherine's third. This didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the novel however, and I found myself looking forward to picking it up during the hot summer weeks over Christmas.Catherine the Great comes to power in 1762 and goes on to rule for another 30+ years beyond the ending of the novel and I've since learned there is a sequel called Empress of the Night: A Novel of Catherine the Great. Published in 2013, it is narrated by Catherine the Great herself and I'm very tempted to add it to my TBR pile straight away.Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction and court intrigue, spies, ambition, loyalty and betrayal.

[4fish_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Before she was Catherine the Great, she was Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, a poverty-stricken German province. Brought to Russia as the fourteen-year-old bride of Peter, heir to Empress Elizabeth, and re-christened Catherine when she converted from the Lutheran faith to the Orthodox church, she had to negotiate a court full of ambitious nobles, deal with a half-witted husband, and find a way to endear herself to ordinary Russians, who were deeply suspicious of foreign influences. Before she was thirty-five, she'd become Empress of all the Russias, ruling in her own right rather than that of her son. Stachniak tells Catherine's story through Barbara (Varvara in Russian), daughter of a Polish bookbinder, and a spy for Empress Elizabeth and her Chancellor. Barbara falls under Catherine's spell and plays a dangerous double and triple game of spying on both ends against the middle. Vivid characters and poetic sentences make this book a delight to read, while the intrigue and suspense generated by Catherine's rise to power make it a fast read, too.

[dgmlrhodes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a good story about Catherine the Great. However, the title was a misleading. The book is told from the perspective of a close servant in the palace and I felt like the story of Catherine was too far removed. There was more detail about the intrigues of the palace and that of the servants story. The story of Catherine was at arms length and only showed the highlights of her life and not as much about her day to day.

[kingray_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Outstanding research making the novel seem real

[kegsoccer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great" by Eva Stachniak cashes in on the fascination with Catherine the Great. I agree with other reviewers that 'A Novel of Catherine the Great' is misleading since the main character is not Catherine. Stachniak should have just gone with "The Winter Palace" as her title, and because she did not, many of her readers are going to be unhappy. The story itself is not necessarily bad, but picking up a book because you think it is going to be about one thing, and it turning out to be about another, does not make the reader very happy. I enjoy historical fiction about certain figures in history (Alexander the Great for example) and often go out of my way to find books about them. If I were a Catherine the Great fan, I would have been greatly disappointed.

[justine28 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved the book for what it is - a historical fiction novel based on the life in the 18th-century imperial court of Russia. I thought Stachniak managed to show good research on the subject as well as her great story-telling skills. The book really reads well, is quite hard to put down at times (even though dragging a little bit towards the end) and actually made me very interested in the Russian history. I also loved the parts about the streets of St. Petersburg and its citizens, a lovely insight into this beautiful city. Altogether a very enjoyable read for me.

[smits_52 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

good book. Not great but readable. I enjoyed learning some history around this time in russian history. Story of the rise of Chatherine the great from the point of view of a young "bookbinders ' daughter that rises in the household of first Elisabeth and then Catherine.

[ljldml · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Greatby Eva StachniakPublished by Random Houserelease date January 10,2012received from NetGalley for review I requested this book from Net Galley to compare with Robert Massie's Catherine the Great. I found it is not a fair comparison. While Massie's book focused on Catherine (born Sophie) and her family, Ms. Stachniak's book was from the viewpoint of a servant named Vavara and not actually about Catherine the Great. I think the title of the book is misleading. This book was vastly different, but in it's own way, just as pleasurable. The book is from the viewpoint of Vavara, daughter of a Polish bookbinder. She becomes orphaned and because of a promise the Empress Elizabeth (leader of Russia daughter of Peter the Great) made to the bookbinder, she ends up a servant in Elizabeth's household. She becomes a spy for the Empress. She is to spy on the young German Princess Sophie (later Catherine). A friendship and close bond forms between the two despite their ages and social positions. I love historical fiction and I love anything to do with the Russian Imperial family. While reading this book, I felt as if I was actually a spectator in the Russian court, a visitor with inside knowledge of the machinations of the court players. Yes, the descriptive powers of the author are that good! This was a very well written and well researched book. It was able to hold my attention from beginning to end. I hope the author actually decides to write a book featuring Catherine herself. I would be first in line to buy it!

[laurenbdavis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars really. I enjoyed it, and it captured the decadence and intrigue of the Russian court, but I didn't care about Catherine as much as I ought to and found it a bit overlong and repetitive. Still, for fans of the genre and the period, there is much to admire.

[containedobsession · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While I am a huge fan of historical fiction, I generally stay away from books about royals. I prefer books written from a regular person's perspective. The Winter Palace is one of the best books about royalty that I have read. Since it's written from Barbara the spy's perspective, you also see the disparities in the lives of regular people and the privileged. Details about St. Petersburg and Russian life are rich and immediate. The story centers around a young girl, Barbara (or Varvara in Russian) and her lonely life in the Russian court of Empress Elizabeth, Peter the Great's daughter. As an orphan, she has no one to support her as she works as a seamstress in the court. Her life of drudgery changes when she catches the eye of a smarmy Chancellor, who trains her to be the Empress's spy. As Barbara matures and proves to be an excellent spy, the story follows the arrival of a young princess to the court who grows up to be Catherine the Great.I know shamefully little about Russian history. In that sense the book filled in a few gaps. The only quibble I have with the book is I was not sure why the guards backed Catherine during the coup. I understood that Peter was kind of weird and too fond of the Prussians but was that the only reason? That part could have been clearer for me.A great book and highly recommended--I am looking forward to the writer's next book.

[historicalreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book,the friendship of Barbara and Catherine was fasicanting it wasa fast pace read for me the character of Barbara kept me interested in the story but I just wish there was more of Catherine in the story. Lots of twists and an turns to keep you turning the page. The development of the friend ship between Sophie and Barbara was one of my favorite parts of the story . This book just draws you to another time in Russia and you just dont want to leave until that last page of the book.

[janarose1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stachniak presents a look into the Russian court of Empress Elizabeth and Catherine the Great told by Varvara, an orphaned ward of the court. Varvara, at first doomed to work away her life in servitude becomes a skilled spy for first Elizabeth and then the young Catherine. The majority of the book occurs when Catherine is first brought to Russia as a potential bride for the Empress's nephew. Once married, the royal couple fails to produce an heir until Catherine begins having a series of affairs.I enjoyed this book however; I felt that it was a bit too long. The plot seemed to suffer from the length. The characters were well constructed and appeared realistic. Varvara's role seemed interesting, but became a bit mundane as the book dragged on. I wish that the book was centered more on Catherine's later life, after she took the throne. Perhaps a sequel will be forthcoming.

[lilkim714 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fabulous book that opens the eyes of the reader to the court of Russia and the life of Catherine the Great before she became the great Empress she is remembered for in history. I havent read a lot of Russian historical fiction, but this author has left me begging for more. I noticed that this author will be writing another book about Catherine the Great and I must make sure I pick that one up too. This book is filled with twists and turns, surprises and intrigue. This book definitely will not disappoint historical fiction fans.

[kraaivrouw · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Of Catherine the Great? Not so much. I really wanted to read about Catherine the Great the storyline with the spy just didn't work for me. So much intrigue seen at so much distance. The glory, the fashions, the jewelry, the hiding in the linen closet ... Just not for me.