Social history coth biography makes this book about diplomatic wives from the 17th through the 20th century both intimate and global in perspective. The result is a book highly praised for its intriguing storytelling. One reviewer said Emma Hamilton and Vita Sackville-West are upstaged by stories from the unfamous women, as Hickman focuses on the experiences of people we've not heard from before. Their own letters and journals give them voice, and Hickman gives their stories scholarly context. Illustrations in a section of plates. Flamingo. An Imprint of HarperCollins. 2000. Paper. USED. $4.00