A review by silverlotus
Mistress of the Vatican: The True Story of Olimpia Maidalchini: The Secret Female Pope by Eleanor Herman

2.0

I was very disappointed by this book. The author takes off on tangents so often that I'd be surprised if more than 30% of the book dealt directly with Olimpia Maidalchini. A nearly chapter long digression on the plague did not add to my understand of Olimpia, nor did the endless descriptions of the inner workings of papal Conclave.

I did enjoy the book for what it ultimately was, but I don't think it was a true biography of Olimpia Maidalchini. It was an interesting look at the world she was part of.