{"product_id":"mistress-of-the-vatican-the-true-story-of-olimpia-maidalchini-the-secret-female-pope-paperback","title":"Mistress of the Vatican: The True Story of Olimpia Maidalchini: The Secret Female Pope - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eEleanor Herman\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor a decade in the seventeenth century a woman ran the Catholic Church, through her brother-in-law and reputed lover, Pope Innocent X. Cardinals bowed down to her and princes feted her as she made international policy, waged war, patronized Rome's greatest baroque artists, and stuffed her pockets with Vatican gold. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBorn of a humble family, at fifteen Olimpia Maidalchini was almost forced to become a nun against her will because her father could not afford a dowry. But Olimpia cleverly escaped the convent, marrying money first, and nobility second. Widowed twice, she single-handedly seated her indecisive brother-in-law on the throne of St. Peter. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdmired, hated, envied, and feared, Olimpia suffered the tragedy of being born an ambitious woman in a man's world. She also experienced the triumph of achieving her wildest dreams, despite the bitter handicap of being female. Against all odds, Olimpia became the Mistress of the Vatican and shook the Catholic Church down to its very foundations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEleanor Herman, the talented author of the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling \u003cem\u003eSex with Kings\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSex with the Queen\u003c\/em\u003e goes behind the sacred doors of the Catholic Church in \u003cem\u003eMistress of the Vatican\u003c\/em\u003e, a scintillating biography of a powerful yet little-known woman whose remarkable story is ripe with secrets, sex, passion, and ambition. For almost four centuries this astonishing story of a woman's absolute power over the Vatican has been successfully buried--until now.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBorn without a dowry, nearly forced into a convent, and later married off to a man she didn't love, Olimpia Maidalchini vowed never to be poor, powerless, or beholden to any man again. Instead, using her wits, Olimpia became the unofficial ruler of the most powerful institution in the world: the Roman Catholic Church. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Church firmly states that women must be excluded from church leadership positions--but for more than a decade in the seventeenth century, Olimpia ran the Vatican. As sister-in-law and reputed mistress of the indecisive Pope Innocent X, she appointed cardinals, negotiated with foreign ambassadors, and helped herself to a heaping portion of the Papal States' treasury.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eMistress of the Vatican\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author Eleanor Herman brings to life not only an extraordinary woman lost in history but an entire civilization in all its greatness . . . and ignominy. This is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 496\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.5 x 8 x 5.3 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 08, 2009\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51758802043168,"sku":"9780061245565","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/50f53eb1e1b959ffd5f7325647d7c01b.webp?v=1780135957","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/mistress-of-the-vatican-the-true-story-of-olimpia-maidalchini-the-secret-female-pope-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}