Review of Perle Mesta's "Perle: My Story"
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Published January 7, 2023
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A Review of “Perle: My Story” an Autobiography by Perle (Pearl) Mesta
- Reviews of the Day: 1960
- Interesting Insights from “Perle: My Story”
- This Author’s Perceptions of “Perle: My Story”
Reviews of the Day: 1960
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“Her appointment as Minister to Luxembourg confounded her critics as well as the State Department. But if all ministers and ambassadors did the kind of person-to-person job Perle did there would be no “Ugly American.”
“She went down into mines, brought all the country’s burgomasters together for the first time—at a party, naturally. She even drew praise from that elder stateswoman, Eleanor Roosevelt.” LaVere Anderson, “Under the Reading Lamp,” The Tulsa World, 1960
We’re pleased Perle Mesta devoted time to writing a book and a lot of other readers doubtless also will be. Her memoirs are entertaining and enlightening. … Judging by the record set down in her book, … it is unfair for her to be known principally as a party-giver.”
Clark Kinnaird, “Mesta Memoirs Entertaining” The Buffalo Evening News, 1960
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“It all seems a little long ago and far away, but it was really quite recent—the era of Perle Mesta, the ‘Hostess with the Mostess,’ the heroine of ‘Call me Madam,’ the indefatigable party-giver, and Minister to Luxembourg. …
“For plain agreeable reading, with really no message at all, it is hard to beat this book.”
“For plain agreeable reading, with really no message at all, it is hard to beat this book.”
Hal Burton, “On Books,” The Newsday Nassau Edition, 1960
Interesting Insights from “Perle: My Story”
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The following information captured in this book describes the impact of Thomas J. Watson Sr. and Matthew Woll’s party on Perle Mesta after she had returned to the States after almost a year in Luxembourg.
This is the reason I read her book. Tom Watson supported her—like so many other women of the day, and like her, he was equally known for his luncheon and dinner events as she was for her “parties.” It has been one of my premises that Tom Watson hosted these luncheon and dinner events because they accomplished exactly what Perle Mesta describes in her book: on the political, economic and religious fronts, they allowed individuals time to speak and interact with others of like or unlike mindsets in an atmosphere that was conducive to listening—rather than pontificating. |
Select image for attribution at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum.
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The picture shown here is from the Truman Library. On their site they write that there are no known copyright limitations but “publish at your own risk.” As is my policy, if you believe you have a copyright on this picture, I have included a link to the Truman Library for you to let them know. Contact me and I will remove the picture immediately pending a discussion between them and you.
This is the excerpt from her book about this Watson and Woll luncheon pictured above:
This is the excerpt from her book about this Watson and Woll luncheon pictured above:
“I had been in Luxembourg nine months when I returned to Washington for a consultation with the State Department, a customary procedure with ambassadors and ministers. … After my Washington consultations, I went up to New York for a few days and was given a luncheon there that I consider one of the greatest honors of my life [emphasis added].”
“Matthew Woll, the A. F. of L. Vice-President, whom I had entertained in Luxembourg the previous fall, got together with his friend and mine, Thomas Watson, President of International Business Machines, to co-host the affair.
“I don't think a party was ever given anyplace by hosts as far apart as those two in their economic viewpoints. As we looked around the luncheon room at the Hotel Pierre from the head table, Matt Woll commented that only in America could such an affair as this take place, with labor and management getting together socially.”
This Author’s Perceptions of “Perle: My Story”
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The reason I read and publish—within my reviews—the “Reviews of the Day” is on display here. After reading “Perle: My Story,” I was trying to summarize my overall impression of the book, and Hal Burton’s review above captured it perfectly in one sentence: “For plain agreeable reading, with really no message at all, it is hard to beat this book.”
As captured above, I bought and read this book because of the passage that captured the fact that Tom Watson threw a luncheon for her that was “one of the greatest honors” of her life. The book has no message other than it is okay to live your life the way you want, seek to treat others by the Golden Rule, and that sometimes getting away from “work” in a pleasant atmosphere can really lead to solutions never thought possible at your place of work: whether it be a personal, political or economic problem. |
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A fun book to read. I wish I had the money to be as oblivious to financial concerns as Perle. Her parties would not be for me, although I would have loved to attend any of Tom Watson’s luncheons or dinners—especially Perle’s.
As they say, different strokes for different folks.
Cheers,
- Pete
As they say, different strokes for different folks.
Cheers,
- Pete
This book is available at Hathi Trust. Select image to read or download this book from that organization.