From a prizewinning, beloved young author, a provocative collection that explores the lives of colorful, intrepid women in history. âThese stories linger in oneâs memory long after reading themâ (Star Tribune, Minneapolis).
The fascinating characters in Megan Mayhew Bergmanâs âcollection of stories as beautiful and strange as the women who inspired themâ (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) are defined by their creative impulses, fierce independence, and sometimes reckless decisions. In âThe Siege at Whale Cay,â cross-dressing Standard Oil heiress Joe Carstairs seduces Marlene Dietrich. In âA High-Grade Bitch Sits Down for Lunch,â aviator and writer Beryl Markham lives alone in Nairobi and engages in a battle of wills with a stallion. In âHell-Diving Women,â the first integrated, all-girl swing band sparks a violent reaction in North Carolina.
Other heroines, born in proximity to the spotlight, struggle to distinguish themselves: Lord Byronâs illegitimate daughter, Allegra; Oscar Wildeâs wild niece, Dolly; Edna St. Vincent Millayâs talented sister, Norma; James Joyceâs daughter, Lucia. Almost Famous Women offers an elegant and intimate look at artists who desired recognition. âBy assiduously depicting their intimacy and power struggles, Bergman allows for a close examination of the multiplicity of womenâs experiencesâ (The New York Times Book Review).
The world wasnât always kind to the women who star in these stories, but through Mayhew Bergmanâs stunning imagination, they receive the attention they deserve. Almost Famous Women is âaddictive and tantalizing, each story whetting our appetite for moreâ (Atlanta Journal-Constitution).