Arguing that the term "lady" should be re-examined and brought back into circulation, the author shows readers how to achieve civility and grace in an often uncivil world.

Explains how to eliminate everyday negativity in order to bring more joy into life, with inspirational tips on the art of loving life, while emphasizing that the true definition of success lies in how good we feel about ourselves.

Eve tempting Adam with the apple, Delilah shearing Samson's hair, Phyllis riding the philosopher Aristotle like a horse—from the patristic period through the sixteenth century, examples of disorderly women such as these from the Bible, antiquity, and romance were cited to prove beyond any doubt that women exercise a power that no man, however superior his moral and physical qualities, can resist. An example of Latin topica, loci, or loci communes central to ancient rhetoric and medieval literature, the Power of Women topos illustrated how a woman could dominate, humiliate, and even destroy the man who loved her too well. Two or more infamous female figures were brought together to exemplify a cluster of interrelated themes: the wiles of women, the power of love, and the trials of marriage. Susan L. Smith's comprehensive study of the Power of Women topos in written texts and in art emphasizes the critical phase of its development from the late twelfth to the end of the fourteenth century. During this period , she argues, traditional employment of the topos exclusively to condemn women and justify male authority underwent a dramatic shift as new voices (some of them female voices) appropriated the Power of Women to contest and relativize the misogynistic views it had been created to promote. The Power of Women analyzes the topos's shifting operations in the context of ancient and medieval theories of rhetoric, particularly with respect to the practice of exemplification, which presuppose the possibility of conflicting judgments on disputed topics. Smith further supports her argument by reference to a wide range of recent theoretical writings by Mikhail Bakhtin and others.

Writing with her characteristic boldness, grace, and gut-level honesty, the author sets aside political correctness and challenges women to unearth the hidden gift of their femininity.

The Art of Being a Woman is an eye opening discussion about the many topics modern day women face. As the title suggests, this book is about the daily practices and lifelong discoveries that become an "art form" distinct to each woman. The individual and her needs are emphasized, as opposed to a "one size fits all" approach. A multitude of women, all ages and ethnicities, were interviewed to get a broad perspective on a variety of issues relating to the female gender, such as health and beauty, relationships, cooking, and self-respect. This book is a practical, yet passionate, rendering of a combination of these factors that so many current publications try to isolate. Womanhood is about the culmination, not separation, of all of these aspects.

* 'This is brilliant and timely' Elizabeth Day 'Part memoir, part manual - this is the type of book every modern woman can take something from' Grazia Learn to navigate the harshness of life with soft power. In her debut book, Lotte Jeffs weaves powerful life experience with practical advice and a psychological deep-dive into what truly constitutes an emotionally rich and meaningful existence. She speaks to everyone from agony aunts and archaeologists, to pop stars and novelists, to explore a diverse picture of what it is to truly live life well. How to be a Gentlewoman will teach you how to slow down, lean out, recognize good relationships and let go of the bad, create a space you love, find your people and construct a happy and 'joined up' sense of yourself. The gentle antidote to a brutal world. For fans of Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love and Elizabeth Day's How to Fail.