Imelda: Steel Butterfly of the Philippines

by Katherine Ellison

She is one of the most compelling, powerful and dangerous women of our time. Also the most underestimated...

Americans know Philippines First Lady Imelda Marcos as "the Shoe Lady," notorious for owning hundreds of pairs of designer shoes and sandals. But Filipinos, who knew there is much more to her story, called her "the Steel Butterfly," and you'll know why after reading this unauthorized biography by Pulitzer prize winning journalist Katherine Ellison.
 
"The research here is superb, the writing is gripping and graceful."
-The Washington Post
 
From her lonely, traumatic upbringing in the remote island of Leyte, Imelda rose to power after a fabled courtship with Ferdinand Marcos. Supported by billions of dollars in US aid, the two ruled the Philippines from 1965-1986 in an often brutal kleptocracy known as the "conjugal dictatorship."
 
This engrossingly detailed biography sheds light on the Manila-Washington connection, Ferdinand Marcos' "creative diplomacy," and horrific human rights abuses, and Imelda's voracious US real estate purchases - including New York City's Crown Building - and little-known role in the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino.
 
Now in her 90s, Imelda is head of a political dynasty centered on her son, Ferdinand Jr. ("BongBong"), the nation's president, and remains an icon of cheerfully unrepentant greed. How did the Marcos dictatorship last so long, seducing so many US presidents and diplomats? Find out in " Steel Butterfuly of the Philippines."
 
"Katherine Ellison has a reporter's zeal for finding the story within the story. Her book is full of surprises."
-David Haward Bain, author of Sitting in Americans in the Philippines

Read IMELDA today!

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Asia, Ebooks

329 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1988

About the author

Katherine Ellison is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, former foreign correspondent, writing consultant, and author of four books, including The Mommy Brain: How Motherhood Makes You Smarter. The mother of two sons, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area."

Reviews

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for the geocaching challenge. This is a good read, so fair play to the author. I would never ordinarily have read about Imelda Marcos, a figure to despise. This did not alter my opinion! A well-shod (heeled) woman naked of scruples and ruthless towards her own people.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imelda, you are a crook with good shoes.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Imelda: Steel Butterfly of the Philippines" by Katherine Ellison is an enthralling and unexpectedly funny unauthorized biography that delves into the life of one of history's most captivating figures. Ellison masterfully narrates Imelda Marcos' dramatic rise from poverty and early love of America to wealth and power. What sets this biography apart is its ability to weave humor into the narrative, making Imelda's persona both fascinating and surprisingly entertaining. Ellison's research provides a compelling and multifaceted portrait of a previously unknown- to- me figure. I downloaded this book to listen to on a flight, and I am so glad I did so!

[Roy_jun · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was very informative and very factual in its approach to a very complicated subject. Imelda Marcos has made a name for herself thru her actions and this book expertly details what those actions were and in what context / situations they were done in. A highLy recommended read.

[Miranda Summerset · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 STARS! I had no idea who Imelda was but instantly became engrossed in her life story. It's a fascinating train wreck of a toxic marriage, & getting caught up in politics and money. An insane true story that is hard to believe actually happened. The audiobook is definitely a must listen!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unauthorized biography of Emelda Marcos who grew up in poverty and became the rich power behind the throne of the leader of the Philippines for many years. At one time she was secretly the owner of several of the largest buildings in New York City which she called the crossroads of civilization. She is often known as the owner of over a thousand pairs of shoes. The story tells about her life from childhood to fame and fortune and how it all ended. It was enlightening to learn so much about the Phillippines, its history, its politics and its interaction with so many famous Americans. I learned a lot listening to this Audible production read by the author.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: This was my first experience with Katherine Ellison's work. It was a book about the life of Imelda Marcos, who once was the first lady of the Philippines. I was amazed at the depth and amount of research that went into this book. The facts of Imelda's life were presented clearly. The story was easy to follow. I liked that the details were not presented in a sensationalized way. Katherine Ellison's narration was fine in that her voice was easy to understand; however, there were a few times when she had to start a sentence or group of words over. Katherine did speak a little fast, and her voice had little tonal variation. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review which included my opinions.