The Mistress: Histories, Myths and Interpretations of the Other Woman

by Victoria Griffin

Book Overview

As long as there is marriage, there will also be the Mistress. Why then, does our society still behave as if marital infidelity were some unfathomable aberration? Mythology is rich with mistresses--... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582340536
• ISBN13: 9781582340531
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Well done intuitivily, and psycologicly, analized...but

I read this book and finished just few minutes a go. I must say, this author quite well asembled, the esence and the patterns, of the histories,mythes,and also the contemporary affairs dinamics. I found it very educating book, in terms of history of the "woman" her role in the so call Love live or relations, as well as licit or ilicit. The author any way tried to excuse her self, for her self and maybe the world of her role as a misstress. It is wort reading, for woman in need of selfknowledge if they are indeed looking for it. It make me only conclude what i was afraid off, men mostly dont know what they really want, feel or need. Ider woman do in some many cases. Really well done!! Men shut read it.

Slow in the middle but interesting

Examining the lives and situations of mistresses from historical times to the present allows the reader to see how things change and at the time see how much they remain the same. I thought this was a very interesting book, but it did slow down quite a bit in the middle. The author did not distribute her subjects evenly, but wound up concentrating a number of examples around the end/beginning of the 19th/20th centuries -- so much so that I started to confuse some of them together, especially when she started discussing multiple generations of affairs in a family. Nevertheless, the book offers insights and understanding to affairs of the heart.

A must read

Especially for those who label themselves as a "mistress" or those who just want a better understanding of the "other woman" this book is a fascinating read. It's interesting to take a historical look at all the women who have gone before us. (And yet somewhat disconcerting that they thought almost the same things in the same words 150 years ago!) I couldn't put this book down. Thanks to this author for bringing light to a little talked about subject.

Learning from history

At first glance, this book looks more like a history textbook, and if someone were looking for a book to help them get over the pain of an affair, they may feel disappointed. BUT, if you read this book with an open mind, no matter what side of the love triangle you're standing on, you have the opportunity to learn about yourself, your side, and what lies behind all of your motivations and experiences. It is more geared toward the other woman than the wife, but I suggest that the wife read this book in order to understand her own power in the triangle by viewing the side of the other woman.I picked up this book after ending my second affair with hopes that it would somehow help me to heal from the pain. Although the book did not end up being a "how-to-get-over-it" book, I can honestly say that it was better than any other book that I have read on this subject. It has been my experience that in order to heal and move on from painful experiences, we must first realize the truth behind the actions and this book articulates these truths through narrating the stories of "the other woman" throughtout history.This book has given me more to work with in my path to healing and understanding. My relationships with my ex-married men are now blame-free and drama-free because I now understand the dynamics of these types of relationships better. If you are thinking about getting into an extra-marital affair, it would do you some good to read this book in order to get a full understanding of what you are actually signing up for. It does a good job of being non-judgemental towards everyone in the triangle, and I believe that all sides should be understood fully.

Excellent

This is a really wonderful book and pretty damn close to being exactly what I was looking for, since it isn't as if I have a support group or anything of that nature. This work gives some background and myth, as well as a feeling of "not being alone", which is quite rare. I liked the combination of literary and historical viewpoint combined with the author's personal perspective, though the conversation between the literary characters was a bit much.