{"product_id":"the-woman-who-knew-everyone-the-power-of-perle-mesta-washington-s-most-famous-hostess","title":"The Woman Who Knew Everyone: The Power of Perle Mesta, Washington’s Most Famous Hostess","description":"A TOWN \u0026amp; COUNTRY MUST READ BOOK OF 2025\n\nAN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH - BIOGRAPHIES \u0026amp; MEMOIR\n\nA deeply researched biography of the socialite, political hostess, activist and United States envoy to Luxembourg, Perle Mesta, from New York Times bestselling author Meryl Gordon.\n\nPerle 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 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.\n\nIn 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.\n\n\"A lively, well-researched account of a powerful woman.\" ―Kirkus Reviews\n\n\"A reverent ode to an overlooked fixture of midcentury American politics.\" ―Publishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003eASIN: 1538751240\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: DBV.1538751240.G\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Gordon, Meryl\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: Gently used with minimal wear on the corners and cover. A few pages may contain light highlighting or writing, but the text remains fully legible. Dust jacket may be missing, and supplemental materials like CDs or codes may not be included. May be ex-library with library markings. Ships promptly!  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dream Books Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41368895291450,"sku":"DBV.1538751240.G","price":5.53,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/6011\/0138\/files\/1538751240-0.jpg?v=1776456234","url":"https:\/\/shop.dreambooksco.com\/products\/the-woman-who-knew-everyone-the-power-of-perle-mesta-washington-s-most-famous-hostess","provider":"Dream Books Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}