Summaries of books about History & Biographies:
The Glitter and the Gold
The American Duchess---in Her Own Words
Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan
The memoir recounts the life of Consuelo Vanderbilt, an American heiress who married the 9th Duke of Marlborough and became part of the British aristocracy. It details her unhappy marriage, her role in high society, and her later work for women's suffrage and charitable causes.
See full summary
Mary Queen of Scots
Antonia Fraser
The book is a comprehensive biography that delves into the life of the sixteenth-century Scottish monarch, exploring her reign, personal relationships, and political struggles. It provides a detailed account of her tumultuous life, including her imprisonment and eventual execution by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England.
See full summary
The Doctors Blackwell
How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women and Women to Medicine
Janice P. Nimura
The book chronicles the lives of Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell, the first and third women to earn medical degrees in the United States, detailing their struggles and triumphs in a male-dominated profession. It explores their impact on the medical field, their establishment of a women-run hospital, and their efforts to open the medical profession to women.
See full summary
Reagan
The Life
H. W. Brands
The biography chronicles the life of Ronald Reagan, from his early days in Illinois, through his acting career and political rise, to his two terms as the 40th President of the United States. It delves into his leadership style, conservative ideology, and the significant events of his administration, including the end of the Cold War.
See full summary
An American Bride in Kabul
A Memoir
Phyllis Chesler
The memoir recounts the author's harrowing experience as a young Jewish-American woman who marries an Afghan man and becomes trapped in a life of cultural imprisonment and abuse upon moving to Afghanistan. It explores her eventual escape, reflections on gender oppression, and the clash between Western and traditional Islamic values.
See full summary
Somewhere Towards the End
A Memoir
Diana Athill
The memoir reflects on the author's experiences and thoughts on aging as she navigates her 90s, offering insights into love, loss, and the changes that come with the later stages of life. It delves into her personal history, including her career in publishing and her relationships, while contemplating mortality and the joys and challenges of growing old.
See full summary
They Left Us Everything
A Memoir
Plum Johnson
The memoir recounts a woman's journey through grief and discovery as she sifts through her deceased parents' possessions in their family home. It explores themes of family legacy, memory, and the complex bonds between parents and children as the author reflects on her upbringing and the process of letting go.
See full summary
Richard Nixon
The Life
John A. Farrell
The biography delves into the complex and controversial political career of the 37th President of the United States, from his early days to his historic resignation in the wake of the Watergate scandal. It provides an in-depth examination of Nixon's personal and professional life, including his achievements and failures, and the lasting impact of his presidency on American politics.
See full summary
Triangle
The Fire That Changed America
Dave Von Drehle
The book chronicles the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 in New York City, detailing the events of the fire, its victims, and the ensuing public outrage. It also explores the fire's lasting impact on labor reform and the growth of the American labor movement.
See full summary
Village of Secrets
Defying the Nazis in Vichy France
Caroline Moorehead
The book recounts the remarkable efforts of the residents of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, a French village, who saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust during World War II. It details the coordinated acts of resistance and humanitarianism by the villagers, who provided refuge and forged documents, defying the Vichy regime and Nazi occupiers.
See full summary