Catherine the Great & Potemkin. Simon Sebag Montefiore. 2000.

It is history's greatest romance. Catherine the Great was a woman of notorious passion, political brilliance and fascinating charm. Prince Potemkin - wildly flamboyant and sublimely talented - was the love of her life, secret husband and co-ruler. Their affair was so tumultuous that they negotiated an arrangement to share power, leaving Potemkin to love his beautiful nieces, and Catherine, her favourites.

But these 'twin souls' never stopped loving each other.

Using their intimate letters, Montefiore brings to life this partnership of passion and empire, restoring Catherine and Potemkin to their rightful place as titans of their age - and timeless lovers.