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dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
4.0
10/10 for writing alone: Herman is _hysterical_. She made what could easily have been a boring and too long biography into something that kept me laughing about the sheer ridiculousness of history. Herman has delved deep and found some incredible facts (King of the Defecators on his toilet throne is one of my faves, though the visual of sick princes/princesses in a corpse-covered bed is also pretty fucking weird/funny).
Overall this is one of the best biographies I've ever read. The story is thorough in its details and easy to read, being as entertaining as reality tv.
Overall this is one of the best biographies I've ever read. The story is thorough in its details and easy to read, being as entertaining as reality tv.
persnip's review against another edition
5.0
OMG! This book is fantastic!! I'm sad it ended. It was non-fiction, but it read like a novel. I really felt like I knew these people; like I was there. A character does something crazy and you're like, "Ha! Classic Camillo". The information was interesting, the quips made me laugh out loud. This may have been better than her first two books, which I also loved. If I could give it more stars, I would.
groovyally's review
2.0
Olimpia was an interesting and powerful woman, but certainly not very nice. Her story definitely should be told but I thought this biography made a lot of assumptions that sort of came off as fact.
bibliophiliadk's review
3.0
During her lifetime Olimpia was an important and well known woman with power, money and ambitions. Today she is all but forgotten. Even though she managhed to rule the most antifemale institution of her time - the Vatican. I had been walking past this book numerous times and finally decided to check it out. It was thorough and dealt with not only Olimpia and her life but also her time and the workings of the Vatican. I was however a little disappointed at the writing; it was full of repeatings and imagenings. But all in all a satisfactory read.
shanijeanius's review against another edition
5.0
Olimpia is inspiring!
I really enjoyed this book and the fantastic romp through 1600s Rome contained within. The corruption described seems fictional in its excess but no doubt it is true. Well researched. My only quibble is a lot of assumptions on her feelings with seemingly little direct attribution.
I really enjoyed this book and the fantastic romp through 1600s Rome contained within. The corruption described seems fictional in its excess but no doubt it is true. Well researched. My only quibble is a lot of assumptions on her feelings with seemingly little direct attribution.
booksandbosox's review against another edition
3.0
My main complaint about this book is that Herman tried to include information about the world around Olimpia and sometimes it didn't flow with the narrative of what was happening in Olimpia's life at that moment. Otherwise, it was interesting to read about a scandal I'd heard nothing about and was really only scandalous because Olimpia was a woman. Not quite as compelling as Herman's previous works, but still intriguing.
kathleenitpdx's review against another edition
4.0
The story of an interesting woman written up with flare and some wry humor. In my estimation Eleanor Herman manages to hit the right spot between an academic and a popular biography. Olimpia Maidalchini was a bright, stubborn, ambitious woman of the 17th century Papal States. She managed to work her way from the daughter of the local tax collector in a small town destined for the convent to a wealthy woman with major influence, some say control, at the Vatican.
Herman fills us in on Church history and information on living conditions and culture of the era without distracting from Olimpia's story.
Olimpia definitely qualifies for Trump's sobriquet "nasty woman" and was thought of as such by her male contemporaries who competed with her for influence and wealth and were definitely not accustomed to such a formidable opponent in the form of a woman.
Herman speculates on Olimpia's feelings and motivations reasonably.
I don't think I would have liked Olimpia and would have definitely been cowed by her but this is a very interesting piece of history.
Herman fills us in on Church history and information on living conditions and culture of the era without distracting from Olimpia's story.
Olimpia definitely qualifies for Trump's sobriquet "nasty woman" and was thought of as such by her male contemporaries who competed with her for influence and wealth and were definitely not accustomed to such a formidable opponent in the form of a woman.
Herman speculates on Olimpia's feelings and motivations reasonably.
I don't think I would have liked Olimpia and would have definitely been cowed by her but this is a very interesting piece of history.