From the Bookshelf of History is Not Boring…

Mistress of the Vatican: The True Story of Olimpia Maidalchini: The Secret Female Pope

Eleanor Herman

Why we're reading this: This book provides excellent insight into papal history. A very interesting read about a topic that doesn…more
[close] This book provides excellent insight into papal history. A very interesting read about a topic that doesn't always get alot of attention.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Apr 21, 2009 Manda rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: women-s-history, biography, italian-history

This was certainly a story I never heard about before, and it was really interesting to read how kingmaker Olimpia managed to run what was at the time the most powerful organization in the world through sheer force of personality and her own shrewdness and despite the church's official stance on women. She in essence created Pope Innocent X, her own brother-in-law, by advising his career and striking the necessary bargains with the right people, and continued to direct from behind the scenes for ...more

Like · see review

Nov 03, 2009 Robin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 17th-century, history, biography, italy

This was a really interesting read. It's well written and creates a vivid picture of Olimpia's character and world. Olimpia is portrayed sometimes sympathetically and sometimes as admirable but also very realistically, warts and all.

It seems to be very well researched. But I did notice one error on a date. I'm pretty sure it was just a typo. The problem was, the author didn't mention specific names so it was a little difficult to figure out when/what she was talking about. Fortunately, it was no ...more

Like · see review

Jan 14, 2009 Lianna marked it as to-read

Shelves: history

why are history books so long

Like · see review

Sep 18, 2008 Sara W rated it really liked it

Shelves: i-own-on-kindle, non-fiction, read-w-book-club

Very interesting and enjoyable book about Olimpia, sister-in-law to Pope Innocent X, who seems to have ran the Vatican during most of Innocent's reign. All of the corruption and bribery reminded me of good old governor Blagojevich! Way to go Illinois, we sure know how to elect them! ...more

Like · see review