The Woman Who Knew Everyone

The Power of Perle Mesta, Washington's Most Famous Hostess

De: Meryl Gordon

Narrado por: Carrington MacDuffie

From a New York Times bestselling author, an revealing biography of feminist Perle Mesta–a beloved socialite, political hostess, and United States envoy.

Perle Mesta was a force to be reckoned with. In her heyday, this wealthy globe-trotting Washington widow was one of the most famous women in America, garnering as much media attention as Eleanor Roosevelt. Renowned for her world-class parties featuring politicians and celebrities, she was very close to three presidents–Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson. Truman named her as the first female envoy to Luxembourg, which inspired the hit musical based on Perle’s life – “Call Me Madam” – which starred Ethel Merman, ran on Broadway for two years and later became a movie. A pioneering supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, she was a prodigious Democratic fundraiser and rescued Harry Truman’s financially flailing 1948 campaign.

In this intensely researched biography, author Meryl Gordon chronicles Perle’s lavish life and society adventures in Newport, Manhattan and Washington, while highlighting her important, but nearly forgotten contribution to American politics and the feminist movement.

Total enjoyment.

Truly, a walk down memory lane.
Full of history and facts of interesting people.
Perle Mesta was a fascinating personality.

Th delightful detail

She was presented as she lived and lived and lived and lived and lived lived lived

From A Political Junkie

I was born in 1944 and moved to Northern Virginia in the late 70’s. When I moved there, I became interested in local politics. At the time, I followed national politics— but stuck to the local and state focus. Needless to say, it was fun to learn about how politics was done right across the river from where I was active. Of course, I recognized many of the names and places in this story that made it a wonderful recounting of the lost art of how to compromise.

History I remember

Liked hearing how parties were integral in breaking into politics and even hastening political decisions.

A Breathtaking Life!

The name Perle Mesta is just a dim memory to a Boomer like me, but I was curious about a woman I knew only as “the hostess with the mostes.” What I found was a woman born in the 19th century who made a positive impact on the 20th. She loved politics and used her fortune and her expressive personality to bring many people of influence together. Finding she was a lifelong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment was a bonus and makes this book quite timely. Meryl Gordon draws on a vast trove of documentation to give an accurate account of Perle’s life. Gordon’s descriptions are vivid - from humble beginnings to glamorous residences— they serve as a solid backdrop for this amazing life. I thoroughly enjoyed this listen!

Behind the scenes in history

Well read and very interesting storytelling. I wasn’t aware of Mrs Mesta’s role in politics at a time when women were not considered to be capable enough to sit at the American table of power.

Great story

Wonderful research and great story. I loved it! Tell all your friends to read, it’s American history like we would love to have today.

not much

the length of this book was too long. all could have been said in a shorter amount of pages.