Peter The Great Part 1 Of 3 Author:Robert K. Massie Part One Of Three Parts In this magnificent biography by the author of NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA, Massie depicts the life and times of one of civilization's most extraordinary rulers, Peter I, Czar of Russia. The first czar to travel outside his own country, he was insatiably curious and was fired by Western ideas. Peter wanted to bring Russia ou... more »t of its stifling medievalism and was driven to change everything: government, society and economy. He created the Russian navy, and established schools, hospitals, museums and libraries. He was responsible for printing the first newspaper in the country. He also edited and published books. "The author is a clear, entirely unpretentious master of narrative history." (Newsweek)« less