The book by the famous historian and writer Olga Eliseeva tells about the young years of Catherine, the future “mistress of half the world.” At the age of 14, she made her plan: “to please her husband, Empress Elizabeth and the people” - and did not forget anything in order to achieve success in this. What means did the young wife of the heir use to implement her ambitious plans? Did she sincerely want to endow her subjects with “happiness, freedom and property”? How did a republican “at heart” become one of the most powerful autocrats? To look into the recesses of the soul of Catherine the Great, the author turns to her memories...