Biography Great Women

Barbara Tate was 17 when she heard the whispered word that would change her life: Soho. It would take four years, but when she finally made it to the forbidden streets of Soho - just as London was recovering from the Second World War - things would never be the same. There, Barbara meets the beautiful and capricious Mae. When she takes a job as Mae's maid, Barbara imagines she'll be housekeeping. But down a shabby backstreet, she discovers the secret lives of Soho's working girls....

Over half of all the visual artists working today are women, but the paintings and sculptures shown in many galleries and museums tell a different story because they're usually the work of men. In this audiobook, Kate Pankhurst, descendent of Emmeline Pankhurst, tells the fascinating stories of some of history's most talented female artists.

Few lives are as dramatic as Lina Kennedy's, and few stories of survival and triumph are as satisfying as this inspirational autobiography. Professionally, Lina is the founder of a multimillion-dollar business based on her hard work, innovations, and discoveries. She speaks and teaches around the world. Yet behind the compelling story of how she built her company lies another drama, the tale of an abused child who could not be crushed. Raised in poverty and dysfunction, she was sustained by her inner strength and by a near-death experience at age seven.

In her much-anticipated autobiography, Cherie Blair takes the reader on a fascinating journey from her childhood in working-class Liverpool to the heart of the British legal system and then, as the wife of the prime minister, to 10 Downing Street.

How did Patsy Mink become a member of Congress? Listeners will learn all about this great Asian American politician and the significant events in her life in this low-leveled biography.

This is the truly remarkable life story of the notorious Ethel Livesey, a serial fraudster and confidence trickster who became a media sensation after she ran out on her society wedding in 1945 and later was arrested for obtaining goods by false pretences. With a prologue by Ethel Livesey's granddaughter, this extraordinary tale of Australia's greatest fraudster is told for the first time in rich and fascinating detail.

In this book of pen portraits the listener is introduced to obscure ladies who were society stars in their day. From the Churchills to the Mitfords, British and European Royals, to international playboys and film stars, these ladies knew everyone. And everyone knew them, for better or worse.

In 16th-century Europe, two women came to hold all the power, against all the odds. They were Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici. One a Virgin Queen who ruled her kingdom alone, and the other a clandestine leader who used her children to shape the dynasties of Europe, much has been written about these iconic women. But nothing has been said of their complicated relationship: 30 years of friendship, competition and conflict that changed the face of Europe.

At age five, Esme was asked to write in her notebook, but instead, she filled it with drawings—the only way she knew to express herself. At seven, when it was discovered she was partially deaf, she found refuge in her sketchbooks. Shortly after, Esme made her first garment and a passion for sewing and designing was born. As a teenager, she made her way to London where her creative journey truly began.

In Serena Williams: The Inspiring Story of One of Tennis' Greatest Legends, you will learn the inspirational story of one of tennis' premier legends, Serena Williams. Williams is arguably the greatest women's tennis player of all-time. At the time of this writing, she holds the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era with 23. Fans from across the world adore Williams and with good reason: she serves as an exemplary role model for how to behave on and off the tennis court. She is not only elite in skill, but also in her sportsmanship. In this unauthorized biography, we'll explore Williams' journey to becoming one of the greatest, and learn what it has taken her to reach where she is today.

Travel to Greece and watch Cynisca, a Spartan princess, become the first ever woman to win at the ancient Olympic Games. Or touch the heavens with Junko Tabei as she carves her path through history and mountain ranges with little applause but a lot of bravery. In this book Kate Pankhurst, descendant of Emmeline Pankhurst, tells the fascinating stories of some of history's most talented female sports stars.

Through the centuries and all over the world, there have been certain men and women whose dedication and hard work have changed our world and the lives of individuals for the better. The names of such are heard so often that everyone should know a few facts about them.

To many Queen Victoria was a ruler shrouded in myth and mystique, portrayed as an aging, stiff widow. But in truth Britain’s longest-reigning monarch was passionate, expressive, humorous, and unconventional. A. N. Wilson’s exhaustively researched and definitive biography includes a wealth of new material from previously unseen sources, showing us Queen Victoria as she’s never been seen before.

Frances: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Legacy is a moving memoir that chronicles the profound bond between a caregiver and her extraordinary client, Frances Volker. In this deeply personal story, author Brenda Ouellette takes listeners on a heartfelt journey through grief, resilience, and the transformative power of unconditional love. After losing her home care business to corporate greed, Brenda reluctantly accepts a new role in the same industry—scarred but hopeful for redemption. There, she meets Frances, a sharp-witted and principled woman living with dementia.

On December 7th, 1955, Kitty McInerney lay dying in a New York hospital bed. The 47-year-old Irish immigrant, suffering from severe toxemia, was preparing for an emergency c-section to give birth to her 17th child. As a Catholic priest performed her last rites, Kitty succumbed to a rare moment of quiet reflection.

Those who may remember Marian Anderson as simply a "great singer" are probably missing 90 percent of what this trailblazing humanitarian's contribution to our society really accomplished. I have principally drawn on to compile and condense the information presented in this book, along with additional expert creditable eyewitness sources not previously publicly disclosed.

"Le coeur d'un homme dans le corps d'une femme", disait d'elle le pape Benoît XIV. Marie Stuart par Stefan Zweig, c'est l'histoire d'une difficulté scandaleuse, celle des femmes pour exister en politique face aux hommes. Traduction entièrement révisée par Olivier Mannoni et préface de l'historienne Yannick Ripa, spécialiste de l'histoire des femmes.

Jeanne Selander and Fred Miller had been married less than five years and were deeply entrenched in family life with their infant daughter and precocious four-year-old son when Fred was diagnosed with a terminal illness. His doctors gave him just three months to live. Instead of giving into fear, they chose to live each day in an unrestrained pursuit of life and love. What they discovered during the eight years that Fred survived gives us luminous insights into love and life and the spirit as they learned to live in the present and not to give away the precious moments of this life.

For anyone trying to understand the origins of modern Russia, the search should begin with Tsar Peter I (1672-1725), who titled himself Peter the Great during his lifetime. The moniker is fitting, considering the manner in which Peter brought Russia out of the Middle Ages and into the 18th century.

Christmas is eagerly awaited by Lulu, a young girl living in a small Wisconsin town during the Great Depression. Anticipation is transformed into anxiety when Daddy loses his job, doubts about Santa flicker, and that Shirley Temple doll seems further away than ever. Mama reveals her own brutal Christmas as an orphan, adding new worries. But it's Lulu's deep faith and vibrant hope that keeps her looking forward to each new day and the glorious gift of Christmas.