Advice to a Young Wife from an Old Mistress [Hardcover]

Michael Drury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 1995

A revised edition of a classic first published 25 years ago Advice to a Young Wife from an Old Mistress examines love--and love affairs--with understated eloquence. The value of romantic exclusivity, the influence of money as power over sex, and other critical issues are addressed in this extraordinary book soon to be a TV movie.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

It might sound salacious, but in fact this is "a remarkably thoughtful and philosophical little treatise" (LJ 9/15/68). Published in the Sixties, it originally sold over 100,000 copies and was reprinted in a small paperback edition last year. Now Random is doing a hardcover edition with a big print run-in time for the NBC movie starring Anne Bancroft.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 110 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1 edition (February 21, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679438726
• ISBN-13: 978-0679438724
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for those in serious relationships, June 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Advice to a Young Wife from An Old Mistress (Paperback)

Reading this book is like getting good advice from a close friend. Not only does the author have extremely good insight on relationships, but she also knows what it means to be happy in life whether you are by yourself or involved with another person. The most impressive facet of the book is that the author has realized that there is no one right way to live and thus manages to convey her ideas in such a way that no matter what the reader's mindset is at the outset, each and every person will leave the book with a slightly different and equally poignant message. Anyone in a serious relationship and considering questions about monogamy and lifetime committment should definitely read this book. I know that it will profoundly effect the way I approach my relationships in the future and I think its words will give more that just a few clues on the mysterious realms of love and happiness.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eloquent and intelligent study of relationships, April 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Advice to a Young Wife from An Old Mistress (Paperback)

Don't be fooled by the title: this book isn't just for old mistresses or young wives. Beautifully spoken - you get the feeling that the old mistress is talking to you - the book moves and touches, giving you a glimpse of yourself more than once. Several times I found myself stopping, reflecting, and smiling to myself at the profundity of the book. Her insights into the strengths and traps of marriages and fundamentally each person's decision to be responsible for his or her own choices in life brings many blurred life lines into focus. I would recommend this book to everyone who wants a better understanding of how love works in the real world.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard truths, but there is beauty in truth..., July 21, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Advice to a Young Wife from an Old Mistress (Hardcover)

Wonderfull book. I am a young man who recently ended a relationship with a much older woman. This book helped me to understand why. In the end, we are only responsbile for ourselves, make ourselves worthy of love, open to love. You can't change others, you can only change yourself, stand back and hope and pray for magic to come into your life. And if it doesn't....then sadily, it was not meant to be. Love is not for sissys. It is hard, hard work. But it is wonderfull stuff and once you've tasted it...it's hard to go back.