If Russians knew how to read, they would write me off.
— Catherine the Great (Empress of Russia, 1762-1796; Public Domain)
Under Catherine II, who came to power through a coup d’état (which she organized, ending the rule of her husband, Tsar Peter III), Russia emerged as one of the great powers of Europe. Catherine embraced the Age of Enlightenment, collecting over 44,000 books and becoming fast friends with Voltaire (though they never met in person—their contact was through voluminous correspondence).
—MSH
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