PRIME MINISTERS’WIVES - AND ONE HUSBAND

Book ID/图书代码： 10725004B06411

English Summary/英文概要： OVER the centuries, the wives of British prime ministers have come from a variety of backgrounds. Much has been required of them: they need to be gracious hostesses, practical managers, sound advisers and sympathetic listeners. Nearly all have served their husbands well, toiling behind the scenes with little recognition. When the glare of publicity has swung round to them it has all too often been of the wrong sort, even when, like barrister Cherie Blair, they are high-flyers in their own right.
In this book Mark Hichens provides vivid portraits of these wives, assessing their roles and achievements and the aspects of their characters that have made some of them so memorable. Caroline Lamb, for instance, would dress up as a pageboy and had herself borne naked into the dining-room on a silver salver. Catherine Gladstone regularly had to cope with the ladies of the night brought home by her husband for redemption. Margor Asqueth, who bad a relationship with the poet Tennyson before her marriage, was known for her wit, once referring to a US general as ‘an imitation rough diamond’; while Clementine Churchill gained respect during the Second World War by supporting Bombed-out families in the East End of London. Lady Palmerston proved to be an effective diplomat, exerting considerable influence on affairs of state at receptions and other gatherings, while some spouses, such as Denis Thatcher, appear to have regarded public appearances as fraught with embarrassing possibilities and preferred to remain in the background. In recent times prime ministers’ consorts have taken refuge from the stresses of Downing Street in various golf and Norma Major through charitable works and biographay.
In terms of their marriages, some have been secure, some wobbly and one broke down altogether. This book considers the changing nature of the role. Is it right in the modern world to expect a prime minister’s wife to live in the shadow ofher husband? Mark Hichens brings all the spouses-both the celebrated and the obscure-into the spotlight, by examining their personalities and lives as well as the roles they have played on the British political stage.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 过去几世纪里的英国首相夫人们各自有着不同的出生，背景大相径庭，但是对他们的要求却一点不低，她们必须身兼数职：温文尔雅的女主人，务实的经理人，可靠的谋士以及全心的聆听者。几乎所有的夫人们都把首相丈夫们服侍的很好，默默的支持着他们，任劳任怨。当公众的眼光投向他们时，往往不是因为夫人们本身的魅力，即使有像Cherie Blair这样极有抱负的律师，结果也是相同的。Mark Hichens提供了夫人们的逼真的肖像画，点评了她们各自所扮的角色和取得的成就以及她们个性的各个层面-----就是这些因素使得他们如此令人难以忘怀。以Caroline Lamb 为例，她出生名贵，父亲是伯爵，母亲是贵族。自小就娇生惯养，专横跋扈；婚后和多名男子有染，其中就有风流倜傥，才华横溢，气宇轩昂的大诗人Byron；被Byron抛弃后行为极其古怪荒唐，使其极耐性的丈夫都无法忍受了：有时会穿着银色衬里的夹克和血红长裤扮成男仆，有时则会坐在巨大的银色托盘上（据某些传言，全身赤裸）滑进饭厅. Catherine Gladstone则经常要和其丈夫领回家来并打算赎出来的妓女们打交道。Margor Asqueth才华横溢的，她曾赞美一美国将军为“璞玉浑金”，婚前曾和诗人Tennyson有暧昧关系。相反，Clementine Churchill则因其在二战时支助伦敦东区因炸弹炸毁了住所而无家可归的人们而饱受崇敬。Palmerston夫人证明了她的外交手腕：无论是在接待会还是在其他的聚会场合，都尽显其对国事的影响力。当然也有像Denis Thatcher（ Thatcher 夫人的老公，也是此书众配偶中唯一男性）这样惧怕抛头露面的，他们情愿退居二线，做好贤内助。最近首相的配偶们为了远离唐宁街的嚣杂和烦恼，有的去写诗了（Mary Wilson就是其中一例），有的打高尔夫去了（如 Deni），有的则投身慈善事业还忙着写传记（如Norma Major ）。就婚姻而论，有些很美满，有些则摇摇欲坠，还有一对嘛已一拍两散了。本书审视了角色的多变性。当今的时代，首相的老婆是否只能生活在她老公的影子下呢？ Mark Hichens把聚光灯对准了这些首相的配偶（有名亦或是无名的），对她们的个性，私生活，以及在大不列颠的政治舞台上所扮的角色评头论足。
就婚姻而论，有些很美满，有些则摇摇欲坠，还有一对嘛已一拍两散了。本书审视了角色的多变性。当今的时代，首相的老婆是否只能生活在她老公的影子下呢？ Mark Hichens把聚光灯对准了这些首相的配偶（有名亦或是无名的），对她们的个性，私生活，以及在大不列颠的政治舞台上所扮的角色评头论足。

Awards/获奖情况：

About the Author/作者介绍： MARK HICHENS既是传记作家，历史学家，也是一位退休教师。他所出版的书籍中有多本历史著作还有一本名为Oscar Wilde’s Last Chance: The Dreyfus Connection.《 Oscar Wilde最后的机会：他与 “德莱弗斯案件”的牵连》。

Format:HARDCOVER

Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE(到期可授)

Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE

Sales in other countries/其他国家销售情况：

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