Simon Sebag Montefiore
Simon Sebag Montefiore is a prizewinning historian and novelist whose bestselling books have been published in over forty-eight languages. His works of history have won prizes in the United Kingdom, United States, France, Austria and Italy. Jerusalem: The Biography was a number one Sunday Times bestseller and won the title of ‘book of the year’ from the Jewish Book Council (USA).
He is also the author of the Moscow Trilogy of novels: Sashenka, Red Sky at Noon and One Night in Winter, which was the 2014 Paddy Power Political Novel of the Year. He is also the author of the children’s novel series The Royal Rabbits of London (written with Santa Montefiore) which is being developed as a major animated feature film by 21st Century Fox.
Books by Simon Sebag Montefiore
“Montefiore quotes a couple of ambassadors to Russia who had personally met Napoleon and George Washington. And both of them said that Potemkin was the most impressive personality that they’d ever seen. The book confirms that perception. It tells the story of this incredible personality and his incredible love which continued after Catherine and Potemkin ceased to be lovers and lasted until Potemkin’s death in 1791—five years before Catherine, although he was 10 years her junior.” Read more...
The best books on Catherine the Great
Andrei Zorin, Historian
Jerusalem: the Biography
by Simon Sebag Montefiore
In Jerusalem: the Biography British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore tells a sweeping tale, covering 3000 years of history, of one of the world's most important and contentious cities. First published in 2011 to widespread acclaim, a new and updated 10th anniversary paperback edition was published in late 2020. We also spoke to Simon about other books to read to learn more about Jerusalem, including a cookbook.
Speeches That Changed the World
by Simon Sebag Montefiore
Simon Sebag Montefiore selects famous speeches from Jesus to President Putin.
“have? We’ve had the reforms of Peter the Great, cutting his ‘window on to Europe’, then we had – and the 18th century is a crucial one – Russia meeting the Enlightenment. Catherine the Great comes to power, and that’s where the biggest revolution I think takes place, from the point of view of civilising the country. She has a great court, of which Voltaire was a part, as well as Potemkin, and this is a wonderful book about these times and days: highly entertaining, informative, pleasant and it’s a very important period, it’s when Russia became a great power.” Read more...
The best books on Pre-Revolutionary Russia
Andrei Maylunas, Historian
Interviews with Simon Sebag Montefiore
The best books on Jerusalem, recommended by Simon Sebag Montefiore
Jerusalem is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a place of longing for three faiths—and yet we know it mostly as a place of strife and conflict. British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Jerusalem: the Biography, recommends books that capture the historical ups and downs of this ever-changing city, but also its vitality, including its irresistible cuisine.
Interviews where books by Simon Sebag Montefiore were recommended
The best books on Revolutionary Russia, recommended by Thomas Keneally
Best-selling author Thomas Keneally explains that the Cold War biographies couldn’t afford to say that Stalin was attractive, or that Lenin was magnetic, but they were, because otherwise people wouldn’t have followed them. He picks some great introductions to Revolutionary Russia.
The best books on Pre-Revolutionary Russia, recommended by Andrei Maylunas
Eminent historian on pre-Soviet Russia with unique access to the Moscow archives says Dostoevsky’s Demons is about Russia’s future. ‘It’s about what has happened, and what’s going to happen … You smell it and taste it’
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1
Russia in the Age of Catherine the Great
by Isabel de Madariaga -
2
Catherine the Great
by Simon Dixon -
3
Catherine the Great and Potemkin: The Imperial Love Affair
by Simon Sebag Montefiore -
4
Selected Letters of Catherine the Great
by Catherine the Great -
5
Working the Rough Stone: Freemasonry and Society in 18th Century Russia
by Douglas Smith
The best books on Catherine the Great, recommended by Andrei Zorin
The best books on Catherine the Great, recommended by Andrei Zorin
She was born in 1729 as Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, a German princess, but by 1762 had become Empress of All Russia and went on to rule for 34 years as Catherine II. She regarded herself as an enlightened despot who embraced the ideas of the Enlightenment and consorted with the French philosophes. Russian historian Andrei Zorin introduces the remarkably industrious and able politician who is remembered as Catherine the Great.
