The book won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. The book chronicles the life of Peter I of Russia, and is divided into five parts: "Old Muscovy", "The Great Embassy", "The Great Northern War", "On the European Stage", and "The New Russia".
Dust jacket has a quarter inch closed tear on spine at top. Signed by author on title page. Ex libris embossing on first 3 pages.