Political Paramours: Thirty Women Whose Dalliances Changed History

Description

Political Paramours: Thirty Women Whose Dalliances Changed History examines the experiences of thirty women in history whose romantic attachments to persons of political significance changed the political, and often even the social landscapes of their day—in always indelible, and in sometimes infamous ways.  The book will cover an international selection of paramours from ancient times until the present day, and will focus on the power of these relationships in helping to form the ages in which they lived.  A chronological approach is used, and each paramour is highlighted in her own unique essay, with illustrations.  Many of these paramours will often be known for the racier aspects of their affairs, but Political Paramours attempts to place each woman’s story in the context of class, location, history at the time, social constraints, and personal histories of those involved—all in addition to some of the livelier sides of their dalliances.  The book is based on factual evidence and first-person accounts when possible.  Some of the stories of the historically changing events resulting from the affairs are, of course, based on available secondary sources in addition to historical context.  Women included in this work range from Cleopatra to Eva Peron, from Anne Boleyn to Wallis Simpson, from Madame de Pompadour to Monica Lewinsky.  The women addressed is this volume are all, in their own ways, women of influence, power and persuasion, and all are emblematic of how political power and prestige, though often cloaked in high-mindedness, is always subject to the vagaries of the relationships between individuals—which is the very foundation of what it means to be human.

News

KWS is pleased to announce that internationally-acclaimed Chicago artist Andrea Harris will create several original portrait paintings to be shown and published for the first time in Political Paramours: Thirty Women Whose Dalliances Changed History
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About the Author

Lisa C. Wagner is a writer on social, religious and political phenomena, including women and gender. She is a teacher and researcher, and holds an advanced degree from DePaul University in Chicago

Product Details

Hardcover, Paperback, and e-Book
6 x 9; 350 pages, illustrated
ISBN: 978-0-9826900-4-8 (cloth); 978-0-9826900-6-2 (paperback); 978-0-9826900-5-5 (e-book)
May 2012: $29.95 (cloth); $19.95 (paper)