Great Dames: What I Learned from Older Women

by Marie Brenner

Book Overview

"Fascinating, gossipy, entertaining. . . ." -- New York Times Book Review They are ten outstanding women of the century. Each had an aura, including Thelma Brenner, the first great dame her daughter... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609606123
• ISBN13: 9780609606124
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Fun, If Taken As Such

Well, the jury seems to be split on this book. The cover and sales pitch for the book do make it seem more "serious" than it actually is. But once you decide to have fun with this book, it's quite enjoyable. I enjoyed the character sketches very much.

Incredible Character Studies - A Great Sunday Afternoon Book

As a person who enjoys theater, film, and books, I'm always interested in character study.Benner's book delves into the lives of a number of different American, female, 20th century public figures (including her mother with whom she had a loving, but troubled relationship). Rather than present these women in a one-dimensional way, Benner explored their lives in all aspects and shared the good, the bad, and the nasty. What I took away from this book is that even the greatest, most admired women have their flaws. Although many of the women were privliged with beauty, wealth, and/or influence, they had to struggle to make their lives a success often in the face of tragedy and adversity.All of Benner's "Great Dames" posessed unparalled tenacity, candor, and spark. This book was both food for the mind and the spirit.

At Last, Wonderful Rich Desserts without the Calories

Great vacation for the brain. Smiled a great deal reading the portraits. Good fun. The portraits are written to show different styles these wonderful ladies had to face life bravely and with fun and their own styles. Great stuff...would love to read more!

Strong Women Who Perservered and Lived Life to the Fullest

Marie Brenner has written a profound collection of essays of some incredible, profound, and dare I say, "great dames." I laughed at some of their exploits. I cried at the tragedies that touched each of their lives in some way, and I came away a better person able to deal with life with a bit more perserverance than I knew I had. The women in this book were not perfect...far from it at times, but neither are any of us! Great Dames is really wonderful! Especially enjoyable were the chapters about Marie's mother, Thelma Brenner.

Moving ... every woman can relate

I couldn't get enough of Marie Brenner's story telling ability. I ate up every word she said about her mother. I feel like all women could tell very similar stories about our own.The book does a great job of showing the tension between endearment and the struggle for independence.