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"This is the story of Catherine the woman, whom power alone could never satisfy, for she also wanted love, affection, friendship and humour. She found these in letter-writing, in grandchildren, in gardens, architecture and greyhounds - as well as in a succession of lovers which gave rise to salacious rumours throughout Europe. The real Catherine, however, was more interesting than any rumour." "Using many of Catherine's own words from her voluminous correspondence and other documents, as well as contemporary accounts by courtiers, ambassadors and foreign visitors, Virginia Rounding seeks to penetrate the character of this most powerful, fascinating and surprisingly sympathetic of eighteenth-century women."--Jacket.