INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "[The] rare biography of a public figure that's not only beautifully written, but also shockingly revelatory." -- The Atlantic A vivid biography of former First Lady Barbara Bush, one of the most influential and under-appreciated women in American political history. Barbara Pierce Bush was one of the country's most popular and powerful figures, yet her full story has never been told. THE MATRIARCH tells the riveting tale of a woman who helped define two American presidencies and an entire political era. Written by USA TODAY's Washington Bureau chief Susan Page, this biography is informed by more than one hundred interviews with Bush friends and family members, hours of conversation with Mrs. Bush herself in the final six months of her life, and access to her diaries that spanned decades. THE MATRIARCH examines not only her public persona but also less well-known aspects of her remarkable life. As a girl in Rye, New York, Barbara Bush weathered criticism of her weight from her mother, barbs that left lifelong scars. As a young wife, she coped with the death of her three-year-old daughter from leukemia, a loss that changed her forever. In middle age, she grappled with depression so serious that she contemplated suicide. And as first the wife and then the mother of American presidents, she made history as the only woman to see -- and advise -- both her husband and son in the Oval Office. As with many women of her era, Barbara Bush was routinely underestimated, her contributions often neither recognized nor acknowledged. But she became an astute and trusted political campaign strategist and a beloved First Lady. She invested herself deeply in expanding literacy programs in America, played a critical role in the end of the Cold War, and led the way in demonstrating love and compassion to those with HIV/AIDS. With her cooperation, this book offers Barbara Bush's last words for history -- on the evolution of her party, on the role of women, on Donald Trump, and on her family's legacy. Barbara Bush's accomplishments, struggles, and contributions are many. Now, Susan Page explores them all in THE MATRIARCH, a groundbreaking book certain to cement Barbara Bush as one of the most unique and influential women in American history.

Viennese Jewish family settles in London.

Indira Gandhi's last years in office as India's prime minister ran from January 1980 to her assassination in October 1984, but until now no book has been devoted to her final term. Among the principal themes discussed in this innovative volume are how Indian politics and society changed in the 1970s, including the Emergency (1975-77), Congress's response to insurgency in Punjab, Assam and Kashmir, the rise of new forms of political mobilization in the early 1980s and the prime minister's relationship with the key institutions of state. Maiorano also reveals how Mrs Gandhi's policies in the 1980s impacted on the big industrialists, the middle class, the rich peasantry and the poor, thereby crucially re-orienting India's economic strategy. Autumn of the Matriarch is the first major study of Mrs Gandhi's last years in power, an important juncture in India's recent history, as it saw the emergence of trends that influenced the country for the next three decades.

In this gripping new novel, interspersed with authentic ancient earth rituals and magic, Stepanich-Reidling takes us on an adventure into Land Bann, where priestesses communicate through the art of sounding and the land has been ruled by a succession of Matriarchs. When Lord Mahnet and his men arrive on the shore of Land Bann, life is threatened. When learning of Mahnets secret mission -- to enforce a male god upon the people -- Captain Garthe creates anarchy and he and his faction form an alliance with the kinfolk. When the kinfolk learn of the invaders, Priestess Muiranda, the next Matriarch twists fate by desperately seeking help from the Ancient Ones and evoking the dark side of Goddess. Garthe and Muiranda join forces and lead their people into battle against Lord Mahnet, but the damage wrought by Muirandas meddling in the supernatural creates chaos. The Ancient Ones withdraw from the world, taking with them the magic of the land. Murder, rape and moral battles ensue. Only Muiranda and Garthe can bring a balance to the land, but Muiranda is lost to the Dark One. Garthe must find a way to reach her before its too late.

“In the tradition of Jean Auel, this well-researched novel authentically recreates the world of the Clovis people.” —Publishers Weekly These children had never seen a tapir. They had never seen a mammoth. So reflects Willow, clan elder of the Clovis tribe, hunters and gatherers who lived on the grassy plains of the great Southwest more than eleven thousand years ago. Looking back on her life, Willow tells the story of when the land was abundant with bison, camels, mammoths, and lions. When communication with animals, plants, and even stones was possible, even essential, for survival. Inventively linking Willow’s chronicle with that of the woolly mammoth matriarchs, award-winning author Sharman Apt Russell explores the impact of human interaction with the environment, shedding light on the archaeological mystery surrounding the mass extinction at the end of the Pleistocene. Recreating the lives of a prehistoric people while highlighting our deep connection to the past and the world around us, The Last Matriarch is a book for our times. “Books like this one can teach us not only the facts of the Paleolithic past, but also allow us to share the experiences of our ancestors. The Last Matriarch does both and does them beautifully.” —Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Social Life of Dogs and Reindeer Moon “With a fluidly poetic style and vivid characterizations, Russell brings the ancient Southwest alive.” —Booklist

In thirty years, the invincible Eqbas will arrive at Earth to forcibly return the planet to what it once was—as retribution, in part, for the gethes' thoughtless near-extermination of an alien ocean-dwelling species. First, however, another world requires their attention: the crowded, ecologically ravaged planet of the swarming, insect-like isenj. Efforts to drastically reduce the isenj population have sparked a devastating civil war—which may well do the savior/destroyers' work for them. And the human visitors can only watch. Rendered immortal and ever changeable by a parasite in her blood, ex-cop Shan Frankland isn't content merely to play Matriarch to her two similarly infected mates—one earthborn, one alien wess'har. Her fears for the future of Umeh and the ultimate fate of humankind must be set aside while she tackles an unfulfilled duty that haunts her every waking moment—a mission that must be undertaken for the sake of the future—and pursues a righteous vengeance.

Achieve success by becoming the change maker you were always meant to be. What is a matriarch? For one thing, you can tell she's in charge the second she walks into a room. She's bold, she's fierce, and she's got her own unique style. The matriarch isn't some crusty old lady dressed head-to-toe in black who sits at the head of the table barking demands at Sunday dinner. The modern matriarch is alive and vivacious. She's purposeful and deliberate about everything, from her career, to her home, to her family, to what she eats for lunch. She is not second guessing herself but moving herself and those she loves boldly into the future. The matriarch’s vision for her career is as big as her love for her family, and she's paid her worth for work she's passionate about. The matriarch knows exactly what she wants the end game to be and she has the power to make it come to fruition. Simply put: she has her act together and you feel safer and more secure when you're in her presence. So, the question is, how does one become her? This book answers that question and more. • Recast yourself • Own your wins • Define your legacy • Leverage your success Written by the CEO of a multimillion-dollar startup, The Matriarch Rules provides you with guidelines that empower you to find personal success and growth in being the compassionate, powerful, and forward-thinking woman you are.

Bob White, a southern politician, is trapped between two social worlds. He is indicted in the murder of Dr. Ray Williams, and the evidence against him is overwhelming. The civil side threatens a racial uproar and pursues the acceptable conduit for justice: the courts. The criminal side pursues their own form of redress: murder. He has to act fast. Bob thinks he can get the heat off him by politically attacking his opponent, Reverend Bryant, a gentle and noble soul who believes that everybody's salvation lies with God. But Bob holds a trump card. Johnnie Mae Dixon, the last matriarch of the south, is forced by her heart to protect one of her babies, and so brings together all the children she has mentored, most of whom have attained the heights of social and political power. All the while, an SBI Agent watches their every move. Bob White: The Last Matriarch brings an unpredictable mix of charming southern life, the ominous criminal underworld, and the tumultuous life of a politician together in one explosive read.

According to the myth of matriarchal prehistory, men and women lived together peacefully before recorded history. Society was centered around women, with their mysterious life-giving powers, and they were honored as incarnations and priestesses of the Great Goddess. Then a transformation occurred, and men thereafter dominated society. Given the universality of patriarchy in recorded history, this vision is understandably appealing for many women. But does it have any basis in fact? And as a myth, does it work for the good of women? Cynthia Eller traces the emergence of the feminist matriarchal myth, explicates its functions, and examines the evidence for and against a matriarchal prehistory. Finally, she explains why this vision of peaceful, woman-centered prehistory is something feminists should be wary of.