Best Books About Mistresses (460 books)

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Mistresses provoke reactions of both adulation and scorn. Vote for your favorite fiction and nonfiction books about these controversial women here.

Looking for inspiration? Devour these five juicy books about the allure of the "other woman" from
Alison Weir, the historian who wrote Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings. See her picks here!

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1	Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden 4.16 avg rating — 2,129,540 ratings score: 28,977, and 293 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Other Boleyn Girl (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #9) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 517,006 ratings score: 19,427, and 197 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Katherine by Anya Seton 4.21 avg rating — 36,445 ratings score: 9,481, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 4.31 avg rating — 1,265,325 ratings score: 9,036, and 93 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 19,799 ratings score: 8,780, and 90 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy 3.84 avg rating — 306,318 ratings score: 7,373, and 76 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert 3.71 avg rating — 383,234 ratings score: 7,272, and 75 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 3.44 avg rating — 932,732 ratings score: 6,991, and 73 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 4.11 avg rating — 952,001 ratings score: 5,825, and 61 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 4.16 avg rating — 2,374,968 ratings score: 5,765, and 60 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 2,501,550 ratings score: 4,899, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 1,888 ratings score: 4,672, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge by Eleanor Herman (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 8,390 ratings score: 4,301, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber 3.89 avg rating — 45,427 ratings score: 4,060, and 42 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles 3.88 avg rating — 56,084 ratings score: 3,850, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 3.93 avg rating — 6,043,238 ratings score: 3,371, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Mistress of Rome (The Empress of Rome, #1) by Kate Quinn (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 32,182 ratings score: 3,076, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and His Scandalous Duchess by Alison Weir 3.86 avg rating — 5,849 ratings score: 2,852, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir 3.98 avg rating — 14,475 ratings score: 2,825, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Virgin's Lover (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #14) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 57,916 ratings score: 2,780, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Reader by Bernhard Schlink 3.79 avg rating — 235,352 ratings score: 2,755, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Courtesan by Diane Haeger (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2,352 ratings score: 2,735, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Les liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos 4.05 avg rating — 60,107 ratings score: 2,728, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 3,877 ratings score: 2,587, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King by Antonia Fraser 3.87 avg rating — 8,095 ratings score: 2,411, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Last Boleyn by Karen Harper 4.07 avg rating — 10,858 ratings score: 2,283, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence 3.50 avg rating — 140,430 ratings score: 2,211, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Bridget Jones’s Diary (Bridget Jones, #1) by Helen Fielding (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 1,030,560 ratings score: 2,161, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Goldsmith's Wife by Jean Plaidy 3.88 avg rating — 660 ratings score: 1,905, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The King's Mistress by Emma Campion (Goodreads Author) 3.87 avg rating — 3,354 ratings score: 1,895, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser 3.78 avg rating — 42,083 ratings score: 1,890, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Concubine by Norah Lofts 3.97 avg rating — 3,236 ratings score: 1,879, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann 3.87 avg rating — 79,392 ratings score: 1,874, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1) by Marion Zimmer Bradley 4.13 avg rating — 214,208 ratings score: 1,849, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant 3.80 avg rating — 26,090 ratings score: 1,817, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 3.87 avg rating — 965,055 ratings score: 1,817, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	La dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas fils 4.05 avg rating — 63,826 ratings score: 1,803, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Time of Singing (William Marshal, #4; Bigod, #1) by Elizabeth Chadwick (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 3,911 ratings score: 1,778, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The French Mistress by Susan Holloway Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 682 ratings score: 1,749, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Pleasure Palace (Secrets of the Tudor Court, #1) by Kate Emerson 3.68 avg rating — 4,310 ratings score: 1,749, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton 3.97 avg rating — 200,642 ratings score: 1,721, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Mary Anne: A Defiant Woman's Journey Through Regency England by Daphne du Maurier 3.44 avg rating — 3,073 ratings score: 1,686, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Nana by Émile Zola 3.84 avg rating — 28,248 ratings score: 1,578, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Exit the Actress by Priya Parmar (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 1,658 ratings score: 1,548, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Royal Affairs: A Lusty Romp Through the Extramarital Adventures That Rocked the British Monarchy by Leslie Carroll (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 945 ratings score: 1,481, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Rivals in the Tudor Court (Tudor Court #2) by D.L. Bogdan 3.82 avg rating — 728 ratings score: 1,477, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings by Alison Weir 3.77 avg rating — 10,540 ratings score: 1,338, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Nell Gwyn: Mistress to a King by Charles Beauclerk (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 589 ratings score: 1,326, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Madame de Pompadour: Mistress of France by Christine Pevitt 3.85 avg rating — 601 ratings score: 1,270, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Perfect Royal Mistress by Diane Haeger (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 1,721 ratings score: 1,264, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England by Alison Weir 3.77 avg rating — 7,945 ratings score: 1,251, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Royal Harlot by Susan Holloway Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 1,740 ratings score: 1,221, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	History Of Mistresses by Elizabeth Abbott (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 409 ratings score: 1,202, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Orange Grove by Kate Murdoch (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 130 ratings score: 1,200, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Love and the Art of War by Dinah Lee Küng (Goodreads Author) 3.41 avg rating — 58 ratings score: 1,195, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Mistress of the Art of Death (Mistress of the Art of Death, #1) by Ariana Franklin 3.93 avg rating — 41,147 ratings score: 1,187, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Between Two Queens (Secrets of the Tudor Court, #2) by Kate Emerson 3.81 avg rating — 2,596 ratings score: 1,150, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The King's Favorite by Susan Holloway Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 659 ratings score: 1,141, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Athénaïs by Lisa Hilton 3.79 avg rating — 923 ratings score: 1,093, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Under Their Skin by Dinah Lee Küng (Goodreads Author) 3.14 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 1,090, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Secret Wife of Louis XIV: Françoise d'Aubigné, Madame de Maintenon by Veronica Buckley 3.86 avg rating — 408 ratings score: 1,084, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham 3.98 avg rating — 52,839 ratings score: 1,050, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Serpent and the Moon: Two Rivals for the Love of a Renaissance King by Princess Michael of Kent 3.76 avg rating — 525 ratings score: 1,002, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV by Anne Somerset 3.69 avg rating — 791 ratings score: 975, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	By Royal Decree (Secrets of the Tudor Court, #3) by Kate Emerson 3.81 avg rating — 1,129 ratings score: 974, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Countess and the King: A Novel of the Countess of Dorchester and King James II by Susan Holloway Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 1,075 ratings score: 935, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV by Karleen Koen (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 2,994 ratings score: 920, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Madame de Pompadour by Nancy Mitford 3.84 avg rating — 2,133 ratings score: 917, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Ulysses by James Joyce 3.76 avg rating — 140,122 ratings score: 906, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy 3.84 avg rating — 76,956 ratings score: 891, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The End of the Affair by Graham Greene 3.90 avg rating — 72,949 ratings score: 860, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Mary Boleyn: The True Story of Henry VIII's Mistress by Josephine Wilkinson 4.10 avg rating — 3,410 ratings score: 857, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	At the King's Pleasure (Secrets of the Tudor Court, #4 ) by Kate Emerson 3.89 avg rating — 684 ratings score: 849, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain 3.76 avg rating — 49,888 ratings score: 849, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Queen's Rival (In the Court of Henry VIII, #3) by Diane Haeger (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 2,596 ratings score: 836, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The Crucible by Arthur Miller 3.61 avg rating — 471,734 ratings score: 809, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Dune (Dune, #1) by Frank Herbert 4.29 avg rating — 1,672,681 ratings score: 770, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) by Kami Garcia (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 624,235 ratings score: 754, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Madame du Barry: The Wages of Beauty by Joan Haslip 3.88 avg rating — 250 ratings score: 743, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Roxana by Daniel Defoe 3.41 avg rating — 5,798 ratings score: 741, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	The Odyssey by Homer 3.84 avg rating — 1,224,947 ratings score: 739, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	The Secret Bride (In The Court of Henry VIII, #1) by Diane Haeger (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 4,468 ratings score: 734, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	The Secret Wife of King George IV by Diane Haeger (Goodreads Author) 3.72 avg rating — 476 ratings score: 726, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	One Day by David Nicholls 3.88 avg rating — 416,702 ratings score: 724, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Loving Frank by Nancy Horan 3.77 avg rating — 102,248 ratings score: 709, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Painted Ladies: Women At The Court Of Charles II by Catherine MacLeod 4.50 avg rating — 26 ratings score: 674, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	The Duke (Knight Miscellany, #1) by Gaelen Foley (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11,662 ratings score: 670, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Other Tudors: Henry VIII's Mistresses and Bastards by Philippa Jones 3.73 avg rating — 2,769 ratings score: 662, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death, #4) by Ariana Franklin 4.14 avg rating — 8,199 ratings score: 654, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	The King's Women by Dinah Lampitt 3.80 avg rating — 294 ratings score: 651, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga 3.77 avg rating — 205,139 ratings score: 640, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	The Child from the Sea, Part 1 of 2 by Elizabeth Goudge 4.10 avg rating — 39 ratings score: 607, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	The Mistresses of Henry VIII by Kelly Hart 4.04 avg rating — 2,259 ratings score: 602, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Sarah Churchill: Duchess of Marlborough: The Queen's Favourite by Ophelia Field 3.63 avg rating — 596 ratings score: 594, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Emma Hamilton by Norah Lofts 3.68 avg rating — 117 ratings score: 577, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Rival to the Queen by Carolly Erickson 3.72 avg rating — 2,294 ratings score: 573, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Petals on the Wind (Dollanganger, #2) by V.C. Andrews 3.82 avg rating — 74,442 ratings score: 572, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand 3.69 avg rating — 409,986 ratings score: 553, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Murder Most Royal (Tudor Saga, #5) by Jean Plaidy 4.02 avg rating — 4,185 ratings score: 551, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Double Indemnity by James M. Cain 4.05 avg rating — 29,066 ratings score: 540, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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460 books · 752 voters · list created October 5th, 2011 by Jessica (votes) .

Tags: historical-fiction, history, literary-classics, literary-fiction, mistress, mistresses, royal-history, women-nonfiction, womens-history, womens-studies

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Comments Showing 1-41 of 41 (41 new)

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message 1: by Mido (new)

Oct 07, 2011 11:39AM

nice books

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message 2: by Kalyan (new)

Oct 10, 2011 10:25PM

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message 3: by Pat (new)

Oct 11, 2011 05:01PM

Looks to me like there is a little manipulation going on regarding "The Darling Strumpet". GR people with -0- books and -0- friends voting this book the best book about mistresses? Lets play fair.

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message 4: by Misfit (new)

Oct 11, 2011 05:16PM

Pat wrote: "Looks to me like there is a little manipulation going on regarding "The Darling Strumpet". GR people with -0- books and -0- friends voting this book the best book about mistresses? Lets play fair."

What's this Pat? You smelling socks again? :D

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message 5: by Pat (new)

Oct 11, 2011 05:27PM

;oX

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message 6: by Molly (new)

Oct 14, 2011 09:19AM

why is eat pray love on here? Also Crimson Petel and the White is MUST on here...I'm a little floored that it wasn't already on the list...

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message 7: by Misfit (new)

Oct 14, 2011 09:56AM

Molly wrote: "why is eat pray love on here? Also Crimson Petel and the White is MUST on here...I'm a little floored that it wasn't already on the list..."

I think someone's been adding some books here that don't fit the criteria. Where's Susannah, she's good at fixing them.

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message 8: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 14, 2011 11:23AM

You could add Crimson Petal and the White.

I'll remove Eat Pray Love. Anything else that doesn't look kosher?

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message 9: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 14, 2011 11:34AM

Removed for not being about mistresses:

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating And Get More Done in Less Time
Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind
Eat, Pray, Love
The Power of Simplicity

Anything else I need to get?

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message 10: by Misfit (new)

Oct 14, 2011 11:52AM

Hard to tell what Quán Gò Đi Lên is about, but considering it was voted in by the same person who voted in the other *wrong* books I'd take a guess that it doesn't fit. I think Life of Pi is about a boy and a tiger.

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message 11: by Moppet (last edited Oct 27, 2011 02:49PM) (new)

Oct 27, 2011 02:48PM

Books I have read and don't think should be on this list:
Northanger Abbey
The Grand Sophy
Gone with the Wind

Books I haven't read but really doubt should be on this list:
The Crucible and Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller
Life of Pi
The Twilight graphic novel

Thinking of starting another list: Books Which Get Onto Every Single List Whether They Are Relevant Or Not

I'll start it off with Eat Pray Love and everything Twilight.

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message 12: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 27, 2011 03:48PM

There's already a "books that appear on every list" list! I believe Twilight was winning it when I last checked.

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message 13: by Wealhtheow (new)

Nov 06, 2011 10:00AM

An affair that's ended badly is a central plot point in the Crucible (a man's ex-mistress/lover accuses his wife of witchcraft), so it may belong on this List.
In Death of a Salesman, a big plot twist is the (retroactive) discovery of an affair, so it may also belong on this list (although I wouldn't really argue that it should, since it just *contains* a mistress rather than is *about* a mistress).

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message 14: by Jan (new)

Nov 17, 2011 08:49AM

In Northanger Abbey a side-character ends up being a mistress, and it's fairly important to the development of the plot, as far as I recall.

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message 15: by Wealhtheow (new)

Nov 17, 2011 09:46AM

I dunno that I'd call Isabella anyone's mistress. To me, "mistress" implies that either she's supported by or in a longish (non-marital) relationship with someone. (view spoiler)

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message 16: by Moppet (new)

Nov 17, 2011 03:39PM

I had the impression that (view spoiler)

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message 17: by Joshua (new)

Nov 17, 2011 07:41PM

very nice!

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message 18: by Lily (new)

Dec 18, 2011 06:22PM

The list was good however, there were not enough modern books.

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message 19: by Kirsten (new)

Jun 26, 2013 12:38PM

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message 20: by Kirsten (new)

Jun 26, 2013 12:41PM

Also, can someone explain why Beautiful Creatures is on this list? I can't figure that one out.

And The Crucible definitely belongs on this list, as the primary subplot of the story involves an angry spurned mistress.

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message 21: by Laura (new)

Jul 04, 2013 05:00PM

"Kimmie and Todoke ..." =appears to be another one harnesses to be removed from this list.

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message 22: by Tiffany (new)

May 08, 2014 08:05PM

So many books on here I want to read, so little money.

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message 23: by Barb (new)

May 11, 2015 06:55PM

Tiffany wrote: "So many books on here I want to read, so little money."

Try the library...

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message 24: by Ann (new)

May 27, 2015 09:26AM

So many great books wish we could read for free.we need to come up with a monthly fee like $9.99 for the month also offer free books,i'm just saying.

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message 25: by Ann (new)

May 27, 2015 09:28AM

So many books i have read that i would like to read over.

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message 26: by ~☆~Autumn (new)

Aug 31, 2015 08:32PM

Moppet wrote: "Books I have read and don't think should be on this list:
Northanger Abbey
The Grand Sophy
Gone with the Wind

I agree as who is the mistress in Gone with the Wind? I think it should be removed.

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message 27: by ~☆~Autumn (new)

Aug 31, 2015 08:37PM

I looked up mistress as my definition was different.

Mistress (lover), a woman, other than the spouse, with whom a married individual has a continuing sexual relationship;

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message 28: by Clare (last edited Jul 27, 2016 12:51PM) (new)

Jul 27, 2016 12:50PM

I don't believe the books in the 'Mistress of the Art of Death' series belong here. They do not refer to the courtesan type of mistress.

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message 29: by Melissa (new)

Feb 12, 2017 12:35AM

The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark #1) by Kresley Cole

There is no mistress in book.

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message 30: by Charles (new)

Sep 02, 2017 06:57PM

Mistresses of today are more intuitive with what men are looking for in today's world. Author's such as Scarlet Steele, or Misstress Benay are some of the current wave of authors that are more in tune with what strong women want and which seems to be a reversel of roles in both women and males. Most subjects are on Femdom, Male Chastity, Cuckolding, Male Discipline, BDSM, which I admit I am also very interested in and don't see any books by them or other authors that also reflect the same subject matter plus other authors that also write very similar in subject matter as mentioned above.

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message 31: by Charles (new)

Sep 02, 2017 07:01PM

Lily wrote: "The list was good however, there were not enough modern books."
So very true and my point exactly.

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message 32: by Charles (new)

Sep 02, 2017 07:10PM

Wealhtheow wrote: "I dunno that I'd call Isabella anyone's mistress. To me, "mistress" implies that either she's supported by or in a longish (non-marital) relationship with someone. [spoilers removed]"
There again in today's world the meaning of Mistress has a totally different meaning then in yesterday's world. In today's world a Mistress is not a kept woman any longer, but more like a Dominatrix in the liberated world of Feminism and Femdom.

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message 33: by Juliet (new)

Sep 19, 2017 08:20PM

Why is Ripple on here, because unless I'm mistaken there isn't a mistress in that book?

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message 34: by Juliet (new)

Jan 30, 2019 04:32PM

Lily wrote: "The list was good however, there were not enough modern books."

I know 1920's isn't exactly "modern" but "A Certain Age" features a middle aged society woman and her boy toy. Plus, her husband is totally ok with her having affairs.

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message 35: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Sep 14, 2019 01:34AM) (new)

Sep 14, 2019 01:33AM

Was Jane Eyre (#9) someone's mistress? I must have missed something... But then again, it's ages since I've read the book.

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message 36: by Misfit (new)

Sep 14, 2019 10:04AM

Booklovinglady wrote: "Was Jane Eyre (#9) someone's mistress? I must have missed something... But then again, it's ages since I've read the book."

Not that I can recall.

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message 37: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Sep 14, 2019 02:30PM

Misfit wrote: "Not that I can recall."

As I said, me neither 😉

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message 38: by Juliet (new)

Sep 15, 2019 06:32AM

Booklovinglady wrote: "Was Jane Eyre (#9) someone's mistress? I must have missed something... But then again, it's ages since I've read the book."
Technically Rochester is married to another woman, so yes. Albeit Jane doesn't know she's "the other woman" and leaves once she finds out.

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message 39: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Sep 15, 2019 11:55PM

Juliet wrote: "Technically Rochester is married to another woman, so yes. Albeit Jane doesn't know she's "the other woman" and leaves once she finds out...."

I didn't think anything 'happened' between Rochester and Jane?

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message 40: by Juliet (new)

Sep 16, 2019 03:08AM

Booklovinglady wrote: "Juliet wrote: "Technically Rochester is married to another woman, so yes. Albeit Jane doesn't know she's "the other woman" and leaves once she finds out...."

I didn't think anything 'happened' bet..."
Well he did flirt with her, and propose marriage when he was already married himself. Though like I said, Jane left once she found out.

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message 41: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Sep 16, 2019 04:02AM) (new)

Sep 16, 2019 03:53AM

Juliet wrote: "Well he did flirt with her, and propose marriage when he was already married himself. Though like I said, Jane left once she found out. ..."

My definition of 'mistress' is when a sexual act happens (on a regular basis). It is good to know though (it's a relief really 😁) that my memory is intact because I didn't miss anything in Jane Eyre 😃

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