Biography & Autobiography : Women

The captivating biography of the French aristocrat who balanced the demands of her society with passionate affairs of the heart and a brilliant life of the mind. Although today she is best known for her fifteen-year liaison with Voltaire, Gabrielle Emilie le Tonnelier de Breteuil, Marquise Du Châtelet (1706–1749) was more than a great man’s mistress. After marrying a marquis at the age of eighteen, she proceeded to fulfill the prescribed—and delightfully frivolous—role of a French noblewoman of her time. But she also challenged it, conducting a highly visible affair with a commoner, writing philosophical works, and translating Newton’s Principia while pregnant by a younger lover. With the sweep of Galileo’s Daughter, Emilie Du Châtelet captures the charm, glamour, and brilliance of this magnetic woman. more...

Price: $16.00

In all the history of China, only two women ever conquered and held the heights of power. Both enjoyed long reigns characterized by ruthless intrigue; they maintained an iron grip at the center while the vast country was torn by rebellions and caught up i more...

Price: $28.95

A collection of essays from some of today's hottest writers reflecting on how Judy Blume's novels affected their childhoods. From puberty to first loves to divorce, Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume follows the j more...

Price: $14.00

In Eye of My Heart , twenty-seven smart, gutsy writers explode myths and stereotypes and tell the whole crazy, complicated truth about being a grandmother in today's world. Among the contributors:. Anne Roiphe learns—the hard way—to keep her mouth shut and her opinions to herself. Elizabeth Berg marvels at witnessing her child give birth to her child. Beverly Donofrio makes amends for her shortcomings as a teenage mother. Judith Viorst exposes the high-stakes competition for Most Fabulous Grandchild. Jill Nelson grapples with mother-daughter tensions triggered by the birth of her grandson. Judith Guest confesses her failed attempt to emulate her own saintly grandmother. Bharati Mukherjee transcends her strict Hindu upbringing to embrace her adopted Chinese grand-daughters. Lynn Lauber finds joy in grandmotherhood that she missed out on as a mother. Sallie Tisdale pays a high price—financially and emotionally—for her fast-growing brood of grandkids. Ellen Gilchrist reveals how grandparenthood has eased her fear of death. Molly Giles is spurned by her toddler granddaughter during a trip to Paris. Susan Shreve finally accepts that she's the grandmother, not the mother. Roxana Robinson realizes, with relief, that she doesn't have to worry so much anymore. Abigail Thomas plots her escape when she can't bear to bake one more cake. Letty Cottin Pogrebin longs to leave a lasting impression on her grandchildren. Mary Pipher explores the primal role of grandmothers in a fast-changing world. In this groundbreaking collection, you will encounter the real stories that usually go untold. Free of platitudes and clichés, the essays in Eye of My Heart are linked by a common thread: a love for grandchildren that knows no bounds, despite inescapable obstacles and limitations. more...

Price: $19.99

After September 11th, Ranya Idliby, an American Muslim of Palestinian descent, faced constant questions about Islam, God, and death from her children, the only Muslims in their classrooms. Inspired by a story about Muhammad, Ranya reached out to two other mothers -- a Christian and a Jew -- to try to understand and answer these questions for her children. After just a few meetings, however, it became clear that the women themselves needed an honest and open environment where they could admit -- and discuss -- their concerns, stereotypes, and misunderstandings about one another. After hours of soul-searching about the issues that divided them, Ranya, Suzanne, and Priscilla grew close enough to discover and explore what united them. more...

Price: $15.00