Superwomen

by Albert Payson Terhune

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Genres: Historical

175 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 10, 2009

About the author

Albert Payson Terhune (1872 - 1942), a local author of some fame, wrote numerous adventures about Collies, most notably, "Lad, A Dog", "Sunnybank: Home of Lad", and "Further Adventures of Lad". Sunnybank, his home on the eastern shore of Pompton Lakes in northern New Jersey, was originally the home of Terhune's parents, Edward Payson Terhune and Mary Virginia Hawes Terhune. Later as his home with his wife, Anice Stockton Terhune, Sunnybank became famous as "The Place" in the many stories of Terhune. Much of the land once constituting the Sunnybank estate was lost to developers in the 1960's with the house being demolished in 1969. Fortunately though, the central 9.6 acres was preserved through the dedicated efforts of Terhune fans and dog fanciers, and is now Terhune Sunnybank Memorial Park, administered by the Wayne Township Parks Department.

Reviews

[Jack Vasen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Deceptive title. Perhaps it needs another word inserted between Super and women. There are several possibilities. Let me go with Heartbreaker, although near-do-well, scheming and amoral also apply.

DNF even at a short 176 pages. I got through 4-1/2 of the mini-biographies before abandoning this book in disgust.

Immediately prior to this book I had read another biography about a true superwoman, Virginia Hall, who accomplished great things in the French Resistance of WWII. I was looking for something along similar lines. These women in this book may have been unusual, but don't confuse that with role models.

The first biography should have clued me. Lola Montez made her way trying to be a dancer, but it was universally known that she was terrible at it. She made her way from man to man and ended up dethroning the King of Bavaria before she was deported.

Other women include Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, George Sand, Nino de L'enclos, Per Woffington, Madame Jumel, Adrienne Lecouveur, Madame du Barry, Lady Belssington, Madame Recamier, and Lady Hamilton.

The author's style in a biography was annoying to me since he frequently editorialized and sarcastically at that. The style makes me wonder how accurate his facts are since he frequently marginalizes the facts he cites.

Mature themes: since I DNF, I can't say with any certainty, but as far as I went there was no actual description of sex, but the lives of the women were not upstanding.

[Amal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about previous and old lives. And interesting perspective of the definition of superwomen in old times.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

My second audiobook.
I loved these little stories about woman back in the days.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work is written in such a humorous tongue in cheek style as to make what could be dry and droll history colorful and fascinating.

[Donna Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only when I looked this up did I realize that my 80 year old favorite had been republished last year. This is for those who love to know those who went before - and who went before with a splash!