Meryl Gordon is an author who specializes in biographies of wealthy woman who have lived public lives on their own terms. Thus Perle Mesta is a perfect subject for Gordon's extensive research and engaging writing. After the death of her husband, a prosperous industrialist with friends in high places, Perle Mesta set her sights on becoming Washington DC's preeminent hostess. She had the wealth to afford to give frequent lavish dinner parties, and she already had the connections to the city's movers and shakers, especially the occupants of the White House. That her career spanned the administrations of Presidents Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman (especially Truman; she attempted to make a match between Margaret Truman and JFK!), Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon is testament to her ambition, energy and curiosity. She was a force. At her dinners, she liked to seat political opponents next to each other with the goal of encouraging comity. There were also moments of comedy which only increased the interest of the press in the goings on in her dining room. She had a thick skin and a big personality. She was mocked for her weight, her Midwestern pedigree, and her lack of work experience in government, especially when Truman appointed her as the US ambassador to Luxembourg. But she understood the ego needs of powerful men and knew how to steer them into working together for the good of the country. She was an advocate of the ERA and wanted to be remembered as an avid feminist and not merely a hostess. I am grateful that Meryl Gordon has brought Mesta's life to light and shown us what "soft power" at its best looks like.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read an advance copy of this fascinating book.

Perle Mesta has been long overdue for a reexamination and luckily, a very talented researcher and writer undertook the task. Perle Mesta was born into a well-off family and then married George Mesta, Italian immigrant and founder of Mesta Machine Works in Pittsburgh. They were married a relatively short time when George Mesta died. His widow never remarried, but devoted her time and money to political activism through social influence. Close friends with both Harry Truman and the Eisenhowers, she professed to be a Democrat, but frequently supported Republicans--namely Eisenhower and later Nixon. She never took to the Kennedys and her criticisms of JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy limited her access to the White House during his presidency. However, she was also close to Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson (despite her earlier defection to Nixon's camp).

Often dismissed as a mere socialite, Mesta wielded enormous political influence with her bipartisan entertaining and careful curation of place settings. A supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, she was also slightly advanced for her time in the area of civil rights. Her time in the embassy in Luxembourg was a highlight for her politically and personally and the parties she gave for GIs and students in the area show her compassion.

This is a wonderfully written and impeccably researched book that shows the true import of Mesta's party-giving. #TheWomanWhoKnewEveryone #NetGalley

I knew nothing of Perle Mesta before reading this book (I was born in the late 1980's) but as a lover of history, I had to read this book and find out more about this woman who influenced American politics for half a century. And wow, was I glad I read this. Perle Mesta was truly a trailblazer for women and her influence spanned the better half of a century. Well written, well researched, cheers to the author!

Although I'll admit that I chose this book based on its cover, I didn't evaluate it by its appearance. I enjoy a good biography, and this strong woman, whose name I had never heard of before, caught my attention. She seemed to be laughing with Jackie Kennedy in private. As you'll discover when you read the book, the subject may have spent almost half of her life mingling with the influential people in our nation's capital, but Mrs. Kennedy was not one of them. That didn't stop me from enjoying Meryl Gordon's most recent, incredibly well-researched, and captivating tale of a woman who, to many, might have seemed like a social butterfly with a knack for entertaining and who used her millions to throw extravagant parties for the political elite with the sole purpose of winning over politicians, but they would be mistaken. Perle Mesta was a force for good, change, and women's causes, and she was far ahead of her time. Despite Mesta's enormous fortune, she had a lot of hardships, including family conflict, the death of a supportive husband, and as many admirers as she had, as many people made fun of her and did it in a big show. Nevertheless, Perle continued to go on. She was not a flower in a hothouse. She was close to three presidents—Truman, Eisenhower, and LBJ—after all. Consider that. As a strong advocate of the ERA and one of the few women at the time to be chosen envoy of Luxembourg, she not only collected money for the Democratic party but also carried weight with her influence. Gordon's book is a history lesson on a lady who made a lasting impression, was admired by many and despised by others, but didn't let anything stop her. Although I felt terrible for Perle because of what she had to go through, the author presented her as stoic, unflappable, and devoted to her friends and extended family—desirable qualities. What a gripping tale, and so masterfully told.

Meryl Gordon has written another well researched biography this one about Pearl Mesta her life all the people she knew the hostess with the mostest.A friend of the Jackie Kennedy and many more of the elite..A book that I really enjoyed reading.#netgalley #grandcentral

I didn’t judge this book by its cover, but I confess, I selected it based on the cover. I love a good biography and was intrigued by this powerhouse of a woman, whose name I’d never heard before and appeared to be sharing an intimate laugh with Jackie Kennedy. It turns out that the subject might have spent more than half her life rubbing elbows with the power players of our nation’s capital, but Mrs. Kennedy was not among them (you'll find out more when you read the book). That didn’t deter from my enjoyment from Meryl Gordon’s latest exceedingly well-researched and fascinating story of a woman to whom many might have appeared to simply be a flighty social butterfly who knew how to entertain and used her millions to host lavish parties for the political set with no other objective than get into the good graces of politicians, but they would be wrong. Perle Mesta was well ahead of her time and was a force for good, for change, for women’s causes. Though Mesta had immense wealth, she had great hardship, family strife, the loss of a husband who had her back, as many admirers as she had, there were just as many who poked fun and did so publicly with great spectacle, but Perle kept on keeping on. She was no hothouse flower. After all, she was tight with three presidents, Truman, Eisenhower, and LBJ. Imagine that. She not only raised funds for the Democratic party, but her influence also carried weight, she was a staunch supporter of the ERA and was appointed envoy Luxembourg when only a few women at the time held such an honor. Gordon’s book is a lesson in history about a woman who left an indelible mark, appreciated by many, shunned by others, yet she didn’t let much stand in her way. My heart ached for Perle for what she endured but the author portrayed her as stoic, not letting much get her down, loyally caring for extended family and friends, an admirable trait. What a riveting, remarkably well-told story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Perle Mesta, a wealthy Washington widow, became one of America’s most famous women, renowned for her glamorous parties attended by politicians and celebrities. Close to three presidents—Truman, Eisenhower, and Johnson—she was appointed by Truman as the first female envoy to Luxembourg, inspiring the Broadway hit Call Me Madam. A trailblazer for women’s rights and a key Democratic fundraiser, she played a pivotal role in rescuing Truman’s 1948 campaign.

I had never heard of Perle Mesta before, but I’m always ready to learn about a woman who lived life her own way. And Perle Mesta certainly did that! At an age when some women might consider taking a step back, Perle was throwing elaborate parties for politicians. She was the woman who knew just about everyone she thought worth knowing.

While reading this, I felt rather sad for her. She lost her husband and then seemed to fill her life with politics. But she never seemed to feel sorry for herself. She had the money to do what she wanted and, most of the time, she did just that.
Overall, this was an interesting look into the life of a woman who was larger than life. Readers who enjoy biographies about strong-willed women will enjoy reading this one.

I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

This book reads more like a textbook enumeration of facts than a biography. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Overall I really loved this book. I appreciate the level of detail the author researched and the care that was taken when writing this book.

I really didn’t know anything about Perle Mesta before this book, but it really brought this concept to life. Meryl Gordon was able to write a strong biography and was engaged with everything that happened. I enjoyed what I read and thought it was well-researched.