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laurieb755 's review for:
informative
medium-paced
The Woman Who Knew Everyone got off to a slow start primarily because at first it felt like I was simply reading a chronological list of events. I prefer reading about history when the author conveys the people, places and events in the form of a story, which in turn brings the history alive. To that end, I felt author Meryl Gordon took a bit too long to find her stride. However, between the fascinating Perle Mesta and Gordon eventually finding her stride, I became hooked.
Known in Washington D.C. as ‘the hostess with the mostess’ Perle was indefatigable to the very end (such end coming at age 92 in March 1975). I was intrigued by her life, her voracious appetite for wanting (needing) to be of use in a way that meshed with her personality and her uncanny ability to bring people together from multiple professions and differing political viewpoints. You can get a small sense of her life in this 8 minute video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfkmImzCchs), which includes footage from the musical Call Me Madam (based on Perle’s life) as well as footage of Perle. I appreciated being able to see her in action.
One of Perle's particular passions was supporting, with the hopes of passing, the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment). Her efforts with the cause began in the 1930s and, sadly, to this day has yet to become part of the Constitution. She considered herself an Oklahoman and the Oklahomans adopted her as one of their own, listing her in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame: https://perle-mesta.webnode.page/
Perle’s beloved husband, George Mesta, died young and coupled with money inherited from her father Perle was left a rich widow. She joined forces with her brother and sister, the three making savvy investments with their inheritances. From these investments Perle had a strong financial base that she used to build her entertaining life. Friends with multiple presidents, it was President Harry Truman who sent Perle to Luxembourg after World War Two as the first female envoy. While she would have preferred to be called an Ambassador, nontheless Perle made the most out of her position, charming the people of Luxembourg, entertaining G.I.s, providing holiday parties for orphaned children, and entertaining Ike and Mamie Eisenhower when Ike was the NATO Supreme Allied Commender in Europe. Apparently he was an excellent cook and he and Perle would spend hours cooking up a storm in the kitchen each time he visited.
Perle became involved with politics not as someone who ran for office but as a bringer together of people at her many parties, especially during the Presidential Conventions, of which she attended many. Perhaps that should not be a surprise given that she was, in her time, “Washington’s most famous hostess.”
Perle lived in New York City, Newport, RI, and Washington, as well as short stays elsewhere in the States and, as noted before, Luxembourg. She also spent time in London and three months on an invited tour of the Soviet Union not long after Stalin died. Along with members of her family she was an avid Christian Scientist, praying daily and attending Church on Sundays. Alas, in times of illness Christian Science utilizes prayer rather than doctors and medicine. The result of that approach was several members of Perle’s family died unnecessairly. There is much more to her story than I relay here and the best way to learn about her is to read the book!
Known in Washington D.C. as ‘the hostess with the mostess’ Perle was indefatigable to the very end (such end coming at age 92 in March 1975). I was intrigued by her life, her voracious appetite for wanting (needing) to be of use in a way that meshed with her personality and her uncanny ability to bring people together from multiple professions and differing political viewpoints. You can get a small sense of her life in this 8 minute video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfkmImzCchs), which includes footage from the musical Call Me Madam (based on Perle’s life) as well as footage of Perle. I appreciated being able to see her in action.
One of Perle's particular passions was supporting, with the hopes of passing, the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment). Her efforts with the cause began in the 1930s and, sadly, to this day has yet to become part of the Constitution. She considered herself an Oklahoman and the Oklahomans adopted her as one of their own, listing her in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame: https://perle-mesta.webnode.page/
Perle’s beloved husband, George Mesta, died young and coupled with money inherited from her father Perle was left a rich widow. She joined forces with her brother and sister, the three making savvy investments with their inheritances. From these investments Perle had a strong financial base that she used to build her entertaining life. Friends with multiple presidents, it was President Harry Truman who sent Perle to Luxembourg after World War Two as the first female envoy. While she would have preferred to be called an Ambassador, nontheless Perle made the most out of her position, charming the people of Luxembourg, entertaining G.I.s, providing holiday parties for orphaned children, and entertaining Ike and Mamie Eisenhower when Ike was the NATO Supreme Allied Commender in Europe. Apparently he was an excellent cook and he and Perle would spend hours cooking up a storm in the kitchen each time he visited.
Perle became involved with politics not as someone who ran for office but as a bringer together of people at her many parties, especially during the Presidential Conventions, of which she attended many. Perhaps that should not be a surprise given that she was, in her time, “Washington’s most famous hostess.”
Perle lived in New York City, Newport, RI, and Washington, as well as short stays elsewhere in the States and, as noted before, Luxembourg. She also spent time in London and three months on an invited tour of the Soviet Union not long after Stalin died. Along with members of her family she was an avid Christian Scientist, praying daily and attending Church on Sundays. Alas, in times of illness Christian Science utilizes prayer rather than doctors and medicine. The result of that approach was several members of Perle’s family died unnecessairly. There is much more to her story than I relay here and the best way to learn about her is to read the book!