She has been called the "kept woman," the "fancy woman," and the "other woman." She exists as both a fictional character and as a flesh-and-blood human being. But who is she, really? Why do women become mistresses, and what is it like to have a private life that is usually also a secret life? Is a mistress merely a wife-in-waiting, or is she the ver y definition of the emancipated, independent female? Elizabeth Abbott intelligently examines the motives and morals of some of history's most infamous and fascinating women, from antiquity to today. Drawing intimate portraits of those who have--by chance, coercion, or choice--assumed this complex role, Mistresses offers a rich blend of personal biography and cultural insight.
Mistresses: A History of the Other Woman
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Abbott''s tour of sensational love affairs provides juicy details and intelligent commentary on some of history''s most marginalized women."
(-- Ms. Magazine )"A fascinating account of the other woman through history."
(--The Sunday Times (London) )"Ms. Abbott is delightfully indiscreet, with an eye for a good story and a colloquial style. . . She has done the ladies a service by bringing them out of the shadows."
(---The Economist )"One of the surprises of this engrossing book is how mired in myth and fantasy it reveals our attitude to mistresses as being."
(--The Sunday Telegraph )"A lively and nuanced look at gender roles as they have been revealed by the lives of concubines and mistresses over the centuries...The book has the irresistible fascination of celebrity gossip...but it reveals far more than the foibles of the rich and famous. Full of fascinating details and illuminating insights."
(--Kirkus )"Mistresses, [Abbott''s] prosopography of other women from Bibli (-- Bookslut )
"Mistresses: A History of the Other Woman blends a social and political study under one cover and provides a probe into the love lives of famous and infamous mistresses, from royal mistresses in 16th century France to Chinese concubines, mobster molls, and those associated with today''s big names. It provides portraits of some 80 women over time who assumed the role of a mistress and pairs history with social analysis in a lively survey recommended for any women''s issues or history holding."
(--Midwest Book Review)
About the Author
Elizabeth Abbott is the internationally bestselling author of A History of Celibacy, Sugar and Haiti. She teaches at the University of Toronto and lives in Toronto.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The other woman hiding in the shadow is often overlooked in the bowels of history. Now the definitive book on this taboo role has been written by Elizabeth Abbott in Mistresses: A History of the Other Woman.
Abbott does a masterful job of going as far back as to biblical times. With a scholarly background she is Research Associate at Trinity College, University of Toronto and, from 1991 to 2004, was Dean of women. In some parts the book is a bit dense and thick to read. Rather than be a salacious tell all, it hits some of history's most famous mistresses.
According to the book, the taboo of a mistress a recent occurrence, it was just part of the web of relationships that men had. They had their wife, who gave them their emotional and home support and the mistress satisfied their sexual needs.
In some parts of the book, it reads like pure gossip. In others it is a good to get the full story behind the headlines.
For instance the real relationship between Prince Charles and Princess Diane mixed in with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Camilla's great-great grandmother Alice Keppel was mistress to Charles' great-great grandfather Edward VIII. Who subsequently abdicated the throne so that he could marry Wallis Simpson.
Charles and Camilla's relationship flourished but she did not fit the role of a princess. She was frumpy, married, and older. Camilla is said to have a fun spirit a certain sexual aura. Fortunately in the end they were together but their tale is one of forbidden love.
Another example is the many women of President Kennedy has long been discussed. In this book the bombshell Marilyn Monroe is explored and mob darling Judith Campbell. It was reported that this prince of Camelot had inadequate sexual skills and was quite the quick draw.
In modern times partly because of the sexual liberation movement, the formal role of a mistress is not as common but still lingers as the need for sexual satisfaction survives.
At over 500 pages, this book will give you a good taste of the magic between the sheets and behind forbidden lust. The author concludes that "today, a woman as well a man may indulge in a passionate attraction for its own sake, as an erotic adventure and surrender to the senses, a delicious interval with a lover who is not, strictly speaking, available, and whom she usually shares with another woman." Hopefully the author will explore in the future works the roles of attached women's side male lovers.
Abbott does a masterful job of going as far back as to biblical times. With a scholarly background she is Research Associate at Trinity College, University of Toronto and, from 1991 to 2004, was Dean of women. In some parts the book is a bit dense and thick to read. Rather than be a salacious tell all, it hits some of history's most famous mistresses.
According to the book, the taboo of a mistress a recent occurrence, it was just part of the web of relationships that men had. They had their wife, who gave them their emotional and home support and the mistress satisfied their sexual needs.
In some parts of the book, it reads like pure gossip. In others it is a good to get the full story behind the headlines.
For instance the real relationship between Prince Charles and Princess Diane mixed in with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Camilla's great-great grandmother Alice Keppel was mistress to Charles' great-great grandfather Edward VIII. Who subsequently abdicated the throne so that he could marry Wallis Simpson.
Charles and Camilla's relationship flourished but she did not fit the role of a princess. She was frumpy, married, and older. Camilla is said to have a fun spirit a certain sexual aura. Fortunately in the end they were together but their tale is one of forbidden love.
Another example is the many women of President Kennedy has long been discussed. In this book the bombshell Marilyn Monroe is explored and mob darling Judith Campbell. It was reported that this prince of Camelot had inadequate sexual skills and was quite the quick draw.
In modern times partly because of the sexual liberation movement, the formal role of a mistress is not as common but still lingers as the need for sexual satisfaction survives.
At over 500 pages, this book will give you a good taste of the magic between the sheets and behind forbidden lust. The author concludes that "today, a woman as well a man may indulge in a passionate attraction for its own sake, as an erotic adventure and surrender to the senses, a delicious interval with a lover who is not, strictly speaking, available, and whom she usually shares with another woman." Hopefully the author will explore in the future works the roles of attached women's side male lovers.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By BrendaMT
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really loved this book. From start to finish, I wasn't able to put it down. I really enjoyed the biographies of the "other women" and the women's history that is usually not talked about. Definately a great addition to my growing collection of women's history.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Susi
Format:Hardcover
Really enjoyed this book! Great sampler biographies of women who became mistresses throughout time ! My husband read it after me and found it interesting too. Some stories were very sad tho as to how women were treated and you felt very bad for them but some women knew what they were doing and did it to get ahead !
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
No pictures
I have other mistress books and they have pictures of the married men and pictures of their mistresses. Not having pictures was truly a disappointment. Read more
Published 8 months ago by terrix2000
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but not great.
It was a very informative book. But very dry. I enjoyed the history of some of the worlds most famous mistresses. Read more
Published 15 months ago by beautiful disaster
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