Somehow, you always manage to get things done. You’re known for it, in fact: When somebody needs something, they come to you. You know the shortcuts, have plenty of power and sweet-talkability, and you’re good at bartering time and resources. It’s a finely developed talent and you know, as in the new book “The Woman Who Knew Everyone” by Meryl Gordon,

that it’s often not what you know, but

who.

Born in the fall of 1882, little Pearl Skirvin had a silver spoon in her mouth at birth — although sometimes, it was tarnished. Her mother was a “devout Presbyterian;” her father was a rakish entrepreneur who wasn’t always around to raise her, but he made sure Pearl had funds to fulfill any desires. The only thing he ever insisted on was that Pearl chaperone her younger sister for a short time — which turned out for the best, because it allowed Pearl to travel even more than she did anyway.

Married in 1917 to George Mesta, a man of means, Pearl’s detractors often commented brutally about her looks and her couth, which they said was lacking. Still, there was no denying that Pearl (later, Perle, after George died) was charming, glib and made friends easily. After she decided to move to Washington D.C., she was also extremely connected.

Her life, however, wasn’t entirely glittering. She never had children and she never remarried; although she had many suitors, she refused several proposals over the years, often preferring the company of a known-homosexual companion for parties. She didn’t just live her life as a socialite — although she was one, having hosted expensive dinners, fetes and events for politicians, fundraisers, VIPs, and friends — but she also bent the ears of several presidents on behalf of women’s rights and the ERA. She was controversial and had plenty of haters, but she firmly believed in racial equality.

And her influence left a political legacy that people still talk about today… We all know somebody whose life seems to be golden, a person with a zillion friends and tons of influence. “The Woman Who Knew Everyone” tells the story of one woman like that, in a way that doesn’t sound as glamorous as you think it might be.

Author Meryl Gordon portrays a rather plain Perle Mesta as someone who never liked the word “no,” and she does it in a way that makes Perle seem whip-smart and persistent, rather than pushy. There’s a lot of story before you get to that point, though, but Gordon makes things interesting by reminding readers what America was like for a woman in the first half of the 20th Century. Through Gordon’s eyes, it’s fascinating to watch Mesta’s velvet-covered cudgel move through Washington; it’s even better to see how far she got doing it.

“The Woman Who Knew Everyone” is a rather hefty book, but it’s a fun and nicely surprising read. If you’re an influencer, fan of politics, watcher of women’s rights, or just want to enjoy a good 20th-Century biography, make it happen.

— The Bookworm Sez