Advice to a Young Wife from an Old Mistress

by Michael Drury

Book Overview

A revised edition of a classic first published 25 years ago Advice to a Young Wife from an Old Mistress examines love--and love affairs--with understated eloquence. The value of romantic exclusivity, the influence of money as power over sex, and other critical issues are addressed in this extraordinary book soon to be a TV movie.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679438726
• ISBN13: 9780679438724
• Release Date: February 1995
• Publisher: Random House
• Length: 110 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

I read and reread this book regularly

My copy of this book is tattered, the print on my favorite passages nearly rubbed away from all the times I refer back to them. I've tried to be a wife and a mistress to one man, sometimes not being good at either but this book reminds me of what a good marriage should be - a place where you retain something of your before-marriage self, a place where you learn and grow, not attempt to hold on or be held back. This book consistently reminds me that in any decision in your marriage, the principal question should be what do YOU want? The ending is one I love - When one is young and a new wife, it is easy to forget that the first and last requirement is to be a woman...

Not just for women

This book has turned my head around concerning marriage, love and sex. Even at 58 years old, she taught me about things that I always had questions about but was unable to even formulate the REAL question so I could deal with a long term marraige that has become boring. I now have direction and purpose. This is a must read for all genders and ages if you want to, really live life.

A must-read for those in serious relationships

Reading this book is like getting good advice from a close friend. Not only does the author have extremely good insight on relationships, but she also knows what it means to be happy in life whether you are by yourself or involved with another person. The most impressive facet of the book is that the author has realized that there is no one right way to live and thus manages to convey her ideas in such a way that no matter what the reader's mindset is at the outset, each and every person will leave the book with a slightly different and equally poignant message. Anyone in a serious relationship and considering questions about monogamy and lifetime committment should definitely read this book. I know that it will profoundly effect the way I approach my relationships in the future and I think its words will give more that just a few clues on the mysterious realms of love and happiness.

An eloquent and intelligent study of relationships

Don't be fooled by the title: this book isn't just for old mistresses or young wives. Beautifully spoken - you get the feeling that the old mistress is talking to you - the book moves and touches, giving you a glimpse of yourself more than once. Several times I found myself stopping, reflecting, and smiling to myself at the profundity of the book. Her insights into the strengths and traps of marriages and fundamentally each person's decision to be responsible for his or her own choices in life brings many blurred life lines into focus. I would recommend this book to everyone who wants a better understanding of how love works in the real world.

Hard truths, but there is beauty in truth...

Wonderfull book. I am a young man who recently ended a relationship with a much older woman. This book helped me to understand why. In the end, we are only responsbile for ourselves, make ourselves worthy of love, open to love. You can't change others, you can only change yourself, stand back and hope and pray for magic to come into your life. And if it doesn't....then sadily, it was not meant to be. Love is not for sissys. It is hard, hard work. But it is wonderfull stuff and once you've tasted it...it's hard to go back.