The Perfect Wife - by Ann Gerhart (Paperback)

About the Book

Examining the influences and motivations of First Lady Laura Bush, Gerhart reveals the depths to which her husband relies upon her, and assesses her achievements. Compelling and insightful, this is the first comprehensive account of a woman who has won the admiration of the nation.

Book Synopsis

The intimate and critically acclaimed biography of the much-admired First Lady -- now in paperback with a new post-election Afterword by the author -- The Perfect Wife tells the complete story of Laura Welch Bush. From Mrs. Bush's upbringing in West Texas to her whirlwind romance with George W. Bush to the Governor's mansion to her roles as mother, Bush family member, First Lady, and savvy political campaigner, Gerhart reveals her as never before.

Review Quotes

"The Perfect Wife is an admiring, sympathetic account of why Laura Bush is so darn nice."
-- The Washingtonian

"Captivating."
-- The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Gerhart has written an interesting book that at times makes Mrs. Bush seem a modern version of those nineteenth-century Edith Wharton wives, finding their own rich private lives amid the hard conventions of marriage and motherhood."
-- The New York Times Book Review

"Gerhart is a wonderful observer, with a keen eye for detail and an excellent ear for conversation."
-- The Washington Post

"Laura Bush is superbly defined in this new biography by Ann Gerhart. If you are one of the multitudes who have wondered what the First Lady is really like, then reading The Perfect Wife is a must. It's a wonderful book."
-- Helen Thomas, Hearst newspaper columnist and author of Dateline: White House and Front Row at the White House

"We may have to wait until history loosens lips to learn how much influence Laura Bush has in the White House. Meanwhile, Gerhart has made a good start at introducing us to the woman behind the smiling public mask."
-- USA Today

"Well-reported and perceptive...[it] is a short, breezy, guilty pleasure of a book, full of juicy quotes and anecdotes....Gerhart offers an unflinchingly clear-eyed view of her subject's foibles."
-- The Washington Monthly

About the Author

Ann Gerhart, a veteran reporter for the Style section of The Washington Post, covered the 2004 Presidential campaign. She has interviewed Laura Bush extensively since 2001 and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, CBS News, C-Span, Fox News, A&E, and VH1 to discuss the First Lady. She lives with her husband and three children in Bethesda, Marylan