Eleanor Herman; the talented author of the New York Times bestselling Sex with Kings and Sex with the Queen goes behind the sacred doors of the Catholic Church in Mistress of the Vatican; a scintillating biography of a powerful yet little-known woman whose remarkable story is ripe with secrets; sex; passion; and ambition. For almost four centuries this astonishing story of a woman’s absolute power over the Vatican has been successfully buried—until now.
#142591 in Books William Morrow Paperbacks 2007-04-24 2007-04-24Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .97 x 5.31l; 1.08 #File Name: 0061227226608 pagesGreat product!
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Americas WomenBy Hester PrynneDecent overview of significant women in American history up to the 1960's. One drawback is that it covers so many women it ends up being rather superficial. It is witty though and covers many interesting incidents in a highly readable fashion. It did not cover some women I think we're significant like Helen Keller and Florence Kelley.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Amazing and engaging history of womenBy Janet EshenroderGail Collins has created this amazing; engaging history of women in America; collecting records from the first women who came to the New World; and continuing her exploration up to the book's 2003 publishing date. It seems like everything is here in her book: the experiences of natives and immigrants; stories of the influential and the powerless; lives from the viewpoint of slaves and plantation owners' wives; daily realities of urban and rural wives. There are fascinating tidbits about the women who changed history and stories about women we should have heard about (their stories are just as inspiring). We learn every-day realities women faced; expanding our understanding of what our grandmothers and our great-great-grandmothers must have endured.Gail does a great job of showing the strength of women despite the way society dictates a woman's "proper" position. She even shows the world forces that shift local attitudes. We see periods where women gain some elements of social independence only to have history shift in new directions; taking back some of the hard-fought gains. It is not uncommon for women to be caught in this struggle; deemed by society to be the more dependent; less interested; capable; or "inclined" of the two sexes. Women were expected to step in and take over men's work when the need arose; and then fade back into the background when men reappeared. It was (is) not uncommon for those women remaining in the front lines to work two or three times harder just to be accepted as an "equal."Gail is masterful in her writing and this book was a total joy to read. As a woman; this explained the society I grew up in; as well as defining much of my own struggle; my own frustrations with the role and treatment of women in today's society.This is a book every woman should read; both to appreciate the strength and courage of women who have come before us; and to appreciate our own position. I'd love to see men read this book; because there should be ongoing discussions of women's role in society.My only disappointment with this book is that it ended at the turn of the century. I would love to have seen what Gail thought of the more recent movements by male politicians; making far-reaching decisions about women's issues without any input from women colleagues.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Gail Collins in long formBy Wendy VAmerica's Women gives you a very readable survey of American History from the female half of the population. Almost conversational in style; very little academic jargon but lots of less known information.
