A History of Mistresses
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On Sale:
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26/02/2004
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Formats:
Trade paperback
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She has been known as the "kept woman," the "fancy woman," and the "other
woman." The French acknowledge her existence by remarking, "The chains of
marriage are so heavy that it often takes three people to carry them." She is
Jeanne Antoinette de Pompadour, and Simone de Beauvoir, not to mention Marilyn
Monroe and Camilla Parker-Bowles. She is a mistress, and she has been – and is –
very much apart of our human cultural history. But who is she, really? What is
the true nature of the mistress-lover relationship? How do women experience
mistressdom? And where does love figure in all of this?
Elizabeth Abbott, who made celibacy sexy in her acclaimed A History of
Celibacy, has the fascinating storehouse of answers in a deliciously rich
blend of history, personality and cultural study. In a lively and accessible
style, History of Mistresses draws intimate portraits of mistresses
throughout history, from Chinese concubines to Europe’s royal mistresses and the
clandestine consorts of (un)celibate clerics. Mobster molls, trophy dolls and
modern mistresses are deconstructed, with often surprising results. Beyond the
personalities, some interesting themes emerge: the relationship between
mistresses of colour and their married men; the coercion of Jewish women during
the Holocaust; and a contemporary look at today’s "power" mistresses.
From lust to love, from money to power, Abbott’s A History of
Mistresses ferrets out the motives and morals of these women, carrying the
reader along on a journey that is hugely informative and always
entertaining.
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Author Extras
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A History of Mistresses
She has been known as the "kept woman," the "fancy woman," and the "other woman." The French acknowledge her existence by remarking, "The chains of marriage are so heavy that it often takes three people to carry them." She is Jeanne Antoinette de Pompadour, and Simone de Beauvoir, not to mention...
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A History of Celibacy
From the divine to the double standard, from Vestal Virgins to the new Power Virgins, a fascinating, wide-ranging historical exploration of celibacy and celibates. Florence Nightingale was one. So was Sir Isaac Newton. A monk vows to be one. A prisoner is forced to become one. History is full of...
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