In this thought-provoking book internationally renowned experts mark the anniversary of Peter I's visit to England in 1698. They explore British-Russian relations - Peter in England, Russian apprentices, British ships and maritime technology in Peter's navy, forest surveys, British views of Russia, Scottish influences - and widen the focus to look at the Baltic question, the motives behind the founding of St Petersburg, and the 1695-6 Azov campaigns. From a glimpse of Russian court life through private letters, portraits of Peter and a description of Catherine I's household to over-views of Peter's reforms and their impact: this timely volume offers new insights into the relationship between Russia and Europe as well as Peter's personality, legacy and relevance for Russia today.

'What is new about this book is not so much the perspectives, but the sources which the authors bring to bear on the perennial questions associated with 'the rights and wrongs, successes and failures of the reign of Peter the Great.' - Russian Review

Autorentext
LINDSEY HUGHES is Professor of Russian History at the School of Slavonic and Eastern Studies, University College London.

Inhalt
List of Tables, Maps and Illustrations List of Abbreviations Note on Transliteration and Proper Names List of Contributors Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: OPENING ADDRESS The Old Man from Cambridge, Mrs Cross, and Other Anglo-Petrine Matters of Due Weight and Substance; A.Cross PART II: THE REFORMS IN CONTEXT The Petrine Reforms and their Impact; A.Kamenskii Administrative Reforms in the Russian Empire: Western Models and Russian Implementation; A.Medushevskii PART III: PETER AND BRITAIN Changing Perspectives: British Views of Russia from the Grand Embassy to the Peace of Nystad; J.Hartley Diligent and Faithful Servant: Peter the Great's Apprentices in England; J.Lane Peter the Great: the Scottish Dimension; D.Fedosov PART IV: MARITIME HISTORY British Merchants and Russian Men-of-War: the Rise of the Russian Baltic Fleet; R.Warner State, Navy and the Origin of the Petrine Forest Cadastral Survey; A.Karimov Peter the Great and English Maritime Technology; W.F. Ryan PART V: DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY HISTORY Peter the Great and the Conquest of Azov: 1695-96; G.Herd Peter the Great and the Baltic; D.Kirby Why St Petersburg?; R.E.Jones Seven Years with Peter the Great: the Dutchman Jacob de Bie's Observations; T.Eckman PART VI: THE COURT AND THE ARTS Catherine I, her Court and Courtiers; J.Alexander Images of Greatness: Portraits of Peter I; L.Hughes Index