“From the award winning author Eva Stachniak comes this passionate novel that illuminates, as only fiction can, the aryl life of one of history’s boldest women. The Winter Palace tells the epic story of Catherine the Great’s improbable rise to power–as seen through the watchful eyes of an all but invisible servant close to the throne.” Review taken from Goodreads. The group decided the bottom line was education and courage. Between Elizabeth who learned from Peter the Great and Catherine who learned by watching, listening and fate the 260,000 people of Russia worked for these women and they did a magnificent job of leadership despite their climate and world isolation.