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Books > Biography > Historical, political & military
The definitive biography of Louisa Catherine, wife and political
partner of President John Quincy Adams "Insightful and
entertaining."-Susan Dunn, New York Review of Books A New York
Times Book Review Editor's Choice Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams,
wife and political partner of John Quincy Adams, became one of the
most widely known women in America when her husband assumed office
as sixth president in 1 825. Shrewd, intellectual, and articulate,
she was close to the center of American power over many decades,
and extensive archives reveal her as an unparalleled observer of
the politics, personalities, and issues of her day. Louisa left
behind a trove of journals, essays, letters, and other writings,
yet no biographer has mined these riches until now. Margery Heffron
brings Louisa out of the shadows at last to offer the first full
and nuanced portrait of an extraordinary first lady. The book
begins with Louisa's early life in London and Nantes, France, then
details her excruciatingly awkward courtship and engagement to John
Quincy, her famous diplomatic success in tsarist Russia, her life
as a mother, years abroad as the wife of a distinguished diplomat,
and finally the Washington, D.C., era when, as a legendary hostess,
she made no small contribution to her husband's successful bid for
the White House. Louisa's sharp insights as a tireless recorder
provide a fresh view of early American democratic society,
presidential politics and elections, and indeed every important
political and social issue of her time.
In his #1 New York Times bestseller, former Vice President Dick
Cheney delivers a forty-year portrait of American politics and
shares unyielding reflections on his role as one of the most
steadfast and influential statesmen in the history of our
country.In his enlightening and provocative memoir--a stately
page-turner with flashes of surprising humor, remarkable candor,
and powerful resonance--former Vice President Dick Cheney takes
readers through his experiences as family man, policymaker,
businessman, and politician during years that shaped our collective
history. Eyewitness to events at the highest levels, Dick Cheney
brings to life scenes from past and present: He chronicles his
coming-of-age as a high school athlete in Casper, Wyoming, and
courting homecoming queen Lynn Vincent, his future wife. He
describes driving through the White House gates just hours after
the 1974 resignation of Richard Nixon, to manage the Ford
transition. He portrays his response to the national crisis of
9/11, when he conveyed orders from the White House bunker to shoot
down a hijacked airliner if it would not divert. And he reveals how
his political vision has endured through his extraordinary ascent
to the heights of American public life as: * The youngest White
House Chief of Staff, under President Gerald Ford * Congressman
from Wyoming who worked closely with President Ronald Reagan *
Secretary of defense under George H. W. Bush, overseeing the U.S.
military during Operation Desert Storm and the resolution of the
Cold War * CEO of the international Fortune 500 company Halliburton
* The first U.S. vice president to serve out his term of office in
the twenty-first century. Working with George W. Bush from the
onset of the global war on terror, he was--and remains--an
outspoken proponent of taking every step necessary to defend the
nation.
"In this insightful, fascinating portrayal, Elizabeth Lev brings
Caterina Sforza and her times very much to life."--Kathleen Turner,
actress and author of "Send Yourself Roses"
A strategist to match Machiavelli; a warrior who stood toe to toe
with the Borgias; a wife whose three marriages would end in
bloodshed and heartbreak; and a mother determined to maintain her
family's honor, Caterina Riario Sforza de' Medici was a true
Renaissance celebrity, beloved and vilified in equal measure. In
this dazzling biography, Elizabeth Lev illuminates her
extraordinary life and accomplishments.
Raised in the court of Milan and wed at age ten to the pope's
corrupt nephew, Caterina was ensnared in Italy's political
intrigues early in life. After turbulent years in Rome's papal
court, she moved to the Romagnol province of Forli. Following her
husband's assassination, she ruled Italy's crossroads with iron
will, martial strength, political savvy, and an icon's fashion
sense. In finally losing her lands to the Borgia family, she put up
a resistance that inspired all of Europe and set the stage for her
progeny--including Cosimo de' Medici--to follow her example to
greatness.
A rich evocation of Renaissance life, "The Tigress of Forli"
reveals Caterina Riario Sforza as a brilliant and fearless ruler,
and a tragic but unbowed figure.
"A rich, nuanced portrait of a highly controversial beauty and
military leader, and her violent, albeit glittering, Italian
Renaissance milieu."--"Publishers Weekly"
"Well-written and meticulously researched, The Tigress of Forli
recreates the world of Renaissance Italy in all its grandeur and
violence. At the center stands a remarkable woman, Caterina Riario
Sforza. Mother, warrior, and icon, Caterina is unforgettable, and
so is the exciting story that Elizabeth Lev tells here."--Barry
Strauss, author of "Masters of Command: Alexander, Hannibal,
Caesar, and the Genius of Leadership"
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