Robert K. Massie
Robert K. Massie
Full Name and Common Aliases
Robert Kinloch Massie Jr. is often referred to as Bob Massie or simply Robert Massie.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on December 23, 1929, in Lexington, Kentucky, USA; passed away on December 20, 2019, at the age of 89.
Nationality and Profession(s)
American author, historian, and Pulitzer Prize winner. Massie's work spans multiple genres, including biography, historical fiction, and non-fiction.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a prominent Kentucky family, Robert Massie developed an early interest in history and politics. His great-grandfather was John James Audubon's business partner and helped establish the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company. This upbringing instilled in him a sense of curiosity about America's past and its figures.
Massie attended the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey before enrolling at Yale University, where he studied history and graduated in 1951. After serving as a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War, Massie moved to Paris, France, and began his writing career under the pseudonym "Robert K." He started contributing articles to _The Atlantic Monthly_ while working on his first novel.
Major Accomplishments
Massie's literary achievements are a testament to his dedication to storytelling. Some of his most notable works include:
Nicholas and Alexandra (1967): A biographical account of the last Russian tsar and his family, focusing on their tragic downfall during the Russian Revolution.
Peter the Great: His Life and World (1980): A comprehensive biography of Peter I of Russia, exploring his transformation of the country from a medieval to a modern state.
* Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War (1991): An historical analysis of the events leading up to World War I, emphasizing the role of technological advancements in naval warfare.
Massie's writing style weaves together meticulous research with compelling narratives. His work has been praised for its ability to convey complex historical information to a broad audience.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to his literary contributions, Massie was an active advocate for social and environmental causes. He co-founded the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy and served as the president of The Nature Conservancy in the 1980s. His commitment to environmental protection remains a significant aspect of his legacy.
Impact and Legacy
Robert Massie's influence on historical writing is evident in his ability to craft engaging narratives while maintaining scholarly integrity. As an author, he has inspired countless readers with his meticulous research and storytelling skills. Many notable historians have cited him as an inspiration for their own work.
Massie's commitment to social responsibility extends beyond his literary contributions. His advocacy for environmental causes has helped raise awareness about the importance of conservation efforts.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Robert Massie is widely quoted and remembered due to his remarkable ability to make complex historical events accessible to a broad audience. His dedication to social responsibility, combined with his exceptional writing skills, has made him an iconic figure in both literature and public advocacy.
Quotes by Robert K. Massie
I have a secret conviction,” he once told one of his ministers, “that I am destined for a terrible trial, that I shall not receive my reward on this earth.
This was not what Europe or Prussia had expected. In his childhood, Frederick had been a dreamy, delicate boy, often beaten by his father, King Frederick William I, for being unmanly. As an adolescent, he wore his hair in long curls hanging down to his waist, and costumed himself in embroidered velvet. He read French writers, wrote French poetry, and performed chamber music on the violin, the harpsichord, and the flute.
I would say about myself that I was a true gentleman with a mind more male than female, but, together with this, I was anything but masculine and, combined with the mind and character of a man, I possessed the attractions of a loveable woman. May I be pardoned for offering this candid expression of my feelings instead of trying to cover them a veil of false modesty. This.
William tapped Nicholas on the shoulder and said, “My advice to you is more speeches and more parades.
Nicholas was received with cheers as he drove past dense crowds in the streets. While he stood on the Neva bank, a cannon employed in the ceremonial salute fired a live charge which landed near the Tsar and wounded a policeman, but investigation proved that the shot was an accident, not part of a plot.
On August 2, Germany and Turkey had signed a defensive alliance against Russia. The Turks were reluctant, however, to take the actual step into war and the German embassy in Constantinople was recommending application of pressure on the grand vizier and his Cabinet. The sight of Goeben anchored off the Golden Horn was thought likely to offer formidable persuasion.
In the summer of 1705, an unusually extravagant rumor horrified the citizenry. The Tsar, it was said, had forbidden Russian men to marry for seven years so that Russian women might be married to foreigners being imported by the shipload. To preserve their young women, Astrachaners arranged a mass marriage before the foreigners could arrive, and on a single day, July 30, 1705, a hundred women were married.
Catherine approved this choice reluctantly. She recognized Peter Panin’s military abilities, but she disliked him personally. He had often declared that Russia should be ruled by a man; his preference was Grand Duke Paul. Catherine also worried about his reputation as a military martinet and about his unconventional personal behavior: he sometimes appeared in his headquarters wearing a gray satin nightgown and a large French nightcap with pink ribbons.
We human beings often see only what is before our eyes. But God in His infinite justice searches the heart and our secret motives and manifests accordingly to us His mercy.
Sometimes on the bridge of his flagship, Beatty would release his inner tension by making faces. “For no apparent reason,” said an officer who served with him, “he would screw his face into a fearsome grimace and hold it quite unconsciously for a minute or two.” Another peculiarity was his addiction to fortune-tellers: a Mrs. Robinson, a Madame Dubois, and, in Edinburgh when he commanded the Grand Fleet, a “Josephine.