ForadecadeintheseventeenthcenturyawomanrantheCatholicChurch,throughherbrother-in-lawandreputedlover,PopeInnocentX.Cardinalsboweddowntoherandprincesfetedherasshemadeinternationalpolicy,wagedwar,patronizedRome’sgreatestbaroqueartists,andstuffedherpocketswithVaticangold.Bornofahumblefamily,atfifteenOlimpiaMaidalchiniwasalmostforcedtobecomeanunagainstherwillbecauseherfathercouldnotaffordadowry.ButOlimpiacleverlyescapedtheconvent,marryingmoneyfirst,andnobilitysecond.Widowedtwice,shesingle-handedlyseatedherindecisivebrother-in-lawonthethroneofSt.Peter.Admired,hated,envied,andfeared,Olimpiasufferedthetragedyofbeingbornanambitiouswomaninaman’sworld.Shealsoexperiencedthetriumphofachievingherwildestdreams,despitethebitterhandicapofbeingfemale.Againstallodds,OlimpiabecametheMistressoftheVaticanandshooktheCatholicChurchdowntoitsveryfoundations.EleanorHerman,thetalentedauthoroftheNewYorkTimesbestsellingSexwithKingsandSexwiththeQueengoesbehindthesacreddoorsoftheCatholicChurchinMistressoftheVatican,ascintillatingbiographyofapowerfulyetlittle-knownwomanwhoseremarkablestoryisripewithsecrets,sex,passion,andambition.Foralmostfourcenturiesthisastonishingstoryofawoman’sabsolutepowerovertheVaticanhasbeensuccessfullyburied--untilnow.
