Böcker av Michael Polowetzky

 Born high in the Pyrenees Mountains on the border between France and Spain, Juana Navarro is the child of a WWII French resistance hero and a nurse from the Basque country who is also a noted sociologist. "A kid from the provinces who made good"-Juana, early on, becomes famed for her fine essayist, the many academic prizes she captures, and as the winner of a historic Baccalaureate contest. Also possessing a deep spiritual side, Juana decides to set all these worldly accomplishments aside and devote herself to God. Inside the convent, the girl soon obtains the favor of Mother Marie and the abbess''s close assistant, Sister Francoise. Unlike Juana (now Sister Jeanne), who freely chose the religious life, her two mentors, both highly intelligent and gifted themselves, were compelled to enter the cloister because of family tradition. The two look upon young Sister Jeanne as someone through whom they might gain vicarious fulfillment of their own frustrated in intellectual ambitions. Eager to please Mother Marie and Sister Francoise, their protegee writes several brilliant books which bring wide distinction to the author, her mentors, and the convent. Born in the maverick, go-it-your-own way, Pyrenees, Sister Juana, while retaining a deep spirituality, also wishes to express her love for God widely. She is doing not merely as a writer inside the convent but also teaching it to the world.  

Continuing the story of hope and struggle that began in "Messenger" and "Courtesans Part I," author Michael Polowetzky''s third novel, "Courtesans Part II," focuses mainly on Countess Celine de Montfort, the present leader of her unique clan. The reader learns about Celine''s childhood and adolescence. The reader learns how Celine is shaped by her idealistic mother and more worldly-wise aunt. In addition, the reader learns about Celine''s unexpected friendship with the expatriate Iranian-American scholar Ashraf Kermanshani. In winning for her new friend the academic acceptance she deserves, Celine demonstrates that the Montfort Ladies are the molders of contemporary statecraft and the shapers of modern culture. 

The Montfort Ladies are movers and shakers. From their gilded cage in elite French society, these noble dames have discreetly engineered the course of much of European history for five centuries. They gently make and unmake kings, presidents and popes. They employ their behind the scene influence to forge historic alliances, settle bitter international disputes, establish famous regimes, bring seeming intractable enemies together as friends. This may be a man''s word, they concede, but that doesn''t mean ladies, too, can''t have a little say in events. "So long as you let them believe it was their idea, that they are the ones making the decisions," women are advised, "men can be led by the nose all the way to China and back!" Currently, no one is better in mastering this subtle, convoluted, political charade, than the clan''s present leader, the gifted, fetching Celine de Montfort. A dutiful mother, she also devotes much time grooming her daughters to one day succeed. Raised in this environment, her younger child is at first eager to continue enhancing her clan''s unique heritage. Then, one day, a series of events, both expected and accidental occur leading Rolande to wonder if her true role in life is perhaps found along another path.

Courtesans, Part III (Finale): Rolande de Montfort goes on her pensive journey across France, visiting many famous sites and being asked to direct visitors to the numerous places often overlooked on traditional tours. At last, realizing her place in life is back in Paris she returns. Soon after reaching the capital, Rolande encounters "The Red Virgin"-Sister Claire, the most famous of the "Five Good Ladies" who continue to advocate the cause of themartyred artist Pascale Kedarfi . Since that Middle Eastern teenage painter''s death, President Markovsky and his regime have attempted to discredit Pascale and her murals. Sister Claire soon persuades her followers to choose Rolande as the new leader of their social-political reformist cause. Rolande accepts. She also makes friends with her mother, Countess Celine''s math-whiz chum Ashraf Kermanmshani. Not long afterward, the French military (with NATO compliance) attempts to force Markovsky to abandon his ties with Rolande''s mother and the Montfort Ladies. Markovsky, a self-seeking coward, quickly complies with army demands. During the ensuing political crisis, Rolande comes to the fore. She rallies the people of France against the military coup and saves democracy. Believing like her mother "that women should not be involved in politics,'''' Rolande at the end withdraws from center stage to await the day when she succeeds her mother as the Montfort countess that subtly directs European events from the dainty sidelines. All the other novel''s main characters Ashraf Kermansahi, Sister Claire, and the other "Five Good Ladies" each acquire interesting places in history.

Tells the fascinating story of three talented and energetic 19th-century women: Mary Lamb, Dorothy Wordsworth, and Sarah Disraeli. While not as public a figure as Mary Lamb and Dorothy Wordsworth, Sarah Disraeli was her brother's trusted and intimate political adviser.