The Women in His Life: A gripping story from the author of A Woman of Substance

by Barbara Taylor Bradford

A glittering tale of a billionaire tycoon and the women that define himMaximilian filthy rich, corporate raider and a man of almost mythical power, glamour and charm. He appears to have everything. But in reality Maximilian is riven with internal conflict and torn apart by personal doubts.

Many women have loved Maxim – and many strive to reach his fortress Anastasia, his first wife; Camilla, the beautiful English actress; Adriana, the competitive American career woman; and Blair, the mistress who schemes to become his wife. But only one woman holds the key that will unlock Maximilian’s secret – and set his soul free…

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Chick Lit, Drama, Contemporary, Historical

562 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 23, 1990

About the author

Barbara Taylor Bradford was a British-American best-selling novelist. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and sold over 30 million copies worldwide. She wrote 40 novels, all bestsellers in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lame ending. Too lightly coated over important periods that were supposed to be stressed. Blatantly covered every important event from 1938 to 1989. Too long a period to cover adequately and include a decent plot. Plot was okay – not outstanding.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had a slow beginning, but the story and character development picked up and became more interesting. I enjoyed 3/4th of the book. I borrowed the book from my cousin Audrey. She said that she reads the book once per year.

[Kristy Trauzzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each new part of this book (when it took over one of the women's perspective), I thought to myself . . . "This is dumb. Why do we have to read this?" And then by the end I was like "Oh I want to know more"

So, I guess my end thought was while it was interesting to hear about the women in his life and know things came to be from their side of things, I still felt that I wanted to know more about Maxim. More of his side. Why he did as he did. What he thought of the things going on around him. I felt that the story was about Maxim, yet I didn't really learn as much as I wanted to. But, that didn't make the women's perspective bad in any way.

Overall, a good read. I like her novels.

[Bamboozlepig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I loved BTB's "A Woman of Substance", but this one I was rather lukewarm on. When it first started off, I was intrigued, but as the story went on, every single character was overly perfect. Maybe I've spent too much time on the darker side of reading and discovered the fucked-up characters that go along with darker material, but it honestly began to grate on my nerves that every single character in this book was without flaws. Maxim was the perfect GaryStu and so were all the other male characters. All the female characters, including Teddy, were MarySues. I plodded along, hoping that somewhere in the novel one of the characters broke the Sue/Stu mold and did something rebellious or outrageous, or even mildly naughty such as farting in bed and shaking the covers over their bed partner, but nope. Nary an evil bone in any of the characters' bodies (save for the Nazis, who were pretty much relegated to background noise) and by the middle section of the book, I was bored and skimmed to the unsatisfying ending. 20 years ago I might've really liked this one, but now I find the super perfect characters annoying and the plot rather bland and cliched.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading Barbara Taylor Bradford's books. I am also interested in WW II history. This book is a combination of both! As the title indicates, it tells the story of a man and the different women who have been important in his life. It is a story of the personal tragedy of a family, set against the larger tragedy of the war.

[Lin #Historical lover...❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed his story... I remember it fondly although I read it over 10 years ago. Barbara's strong point is her ability to write about multiple strong personalities over lifetimes. She will always be a favorite although I have found other writers to surpass her.

[Shirley Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely good story, in fact unexpectedly good as the title didn't do it justice. I had a bit of an issue at first with Barbara Taylor Bradford's writing but eventually got used to her missing out 'and' in numerous sentences, e.g. 'Alan glanced up, started to laugh.'

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally this type of novelist with their genre, the main character is centered around a woman with men coming into the picture; but with this story - it is about a man - Maximilian West, billionaire extraordinaire! His story was being told through the women in his life and it all started out with being shot, lying in hospital and calling out to the one woman that meant the most to him - Teddy, 'you are my real mother!" ... But let us sift through all the women who made him to be the man he was today! A young Jewish baby in Berlin, Germany before Hitler came to power with loving parents. Beautiful Mutti who sacrificed herself so that he and young nanny Teddy could escape the atrocities of the Holocaust to freedom in Britain, where Maxim grew into a talented savy young businessman. Anastasia captivated his heart and gave him two beautiful children. Camilla who loved him forever became his beloved second wife. There were also Adriana and Blair, but they were more after the wealth he could provide than to nurture his soul for the answers it needed... and so it was in his much later years that a visit to Berlin when the city of East and West were once again united that he got his answers - from a letter from his beloved Mutti and the women that truly mattered .... wow .. most enjoyable!

[Scot Bellavia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads like watching a movie. It was very engaging and interesting. It is a romance novel, with some really explicit sex scenes, which were not altogether unnecessary, but you could probably have skipped through them and not missed anything. Some of these reviews on here criticize the book for hitting up all the notable historical events in an obligatory manner. I think they were well discussed and accurate and made the story interesting.
I will say that some of it was a little ridiculous. I’m not a huge fan of the last few pages. Also, in her description of some of the characters, she might as well have said “he was the most handsome man you’ve ever conceived of” or “she was the most beautiful woman you could ever imagine existing.” The characters checked off all the boxes anyone would want, almost overly so, so that you’d be drawn to them. A little bit forced in that respect.
Overall, I enjoyed the purpose and plot of the book.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another saga I couldn't put down. Gripping, superb read.

Back Cover Blurb:
Maximilian West: filthy rich, corporate raider and a man of almost mythical power, glamour and charm. He appears to have everything. But in reality Maximilian is riven with internal conflicts and torm apart by personal doubts. Many women have loved Maxim - and many strive to reach his fortress heart: Anastasia, his first wife; Camilla, the beautiful English actress; Adriana, the competative American career woman; and Blair, the mistress who schemes to become his wife. But only one woman holds the key that will unlock Maximilian's secret - and set his soul free....

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Barbara Taylor Bradford is such an expert on telling superb realistic fiction stories. I love how she tells the story throughout many years, a lifetime. In this book, which is similar to her current book, Letter from a Stranger, part of the story takes place during World War II. History comes alive and you come to know the characters as if you know them personally. You find out what it was like living in Germany and Europe during the war. I loved the how the ending came about also...a bit predictable, but a good coming together of the characters, and everyone is now happy.

[Michael Hildrum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book at a bus stop when I was between books. (it is a www.bookcrossing.bom book) I thought it was going to be a romance novel from the heavily airbrushed woman's picture on the back, and the way the first chapter was insistent on describing how handsome this man was. I was wrong.

It turns out it is just a generic novel about a dude and, you guessed it, the women in his life. Not a very good book. I would not recommend it to anyone I know, but it was not completely without merit. I got into the story a little bit.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several of Barbara Taylor Bradford's books, and have enjoyed them all. That being
said I think this is an excellent book and one of her best. It's the story of Maximillian West, his
childhood, marriages, successes and heartache. It's also a history lesson, starting in Berlin in
1939 when Maxim was just 4 years old and Hitler was coming into power. He escapes with his
nanny to London. The story ends in 1989 when the Berlin Wall comes down. l would certainly
recommend this book, it was very hard to put down.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Barbara Taylor Bradford read for me. I really like her style of writing, narrative. This book shows that when you look back on your life, there are key people that influence your outcome. Appreciate of self, others and opportunity.

I enjoyed reading this book and it reminded me of the closeness a group of people can have in the most trying times.

[Ada Iaboni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story that spans over 40 years. The story moves forward very fast. I loved it. It was heartbreaking, loving, emotional,and soul searching. My only complaint is the ending came too fast.
After all the main character goes through, the ending should have had more detail and just a bit more time to evolve.

[Shelley Shrader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it was the last book my dear Mother-in-law shared with me before she passed in 1997. I didn’t enjoy it as much as she did. I thought it started off interesting with an element of mystery. But following the women in Maxim’s life from 1939 to 1989 got tedious and rather predictable at times.

[Dlittle · Rating 2 out of 5]

book about the women in this successful businessman's life. Begins with his mother, and goes onto his nanny, and his 1st, 2nd and 3rd wife, and lover. Tells his whole life story beginning as a Jew in Hitler's Germany.

[Taffey Champion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly enjoyable, yet poignant story about how a man's life is affected by all of the loves in his life: beginning with his deceased mother during World War II, and continuing tragically throughout his life, with all of his lady love interests. I loved this novel.

[Joan Ridge]

I thought this book was going to be a fluffy read but it wasn't, it was so good.
Maxim the main character, what can I say but wouldn't every woman want a man like him.
Loved the way MS Bradford wrote this novel.

[Rachna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another entertaining saga by Bradford. She can never go wrong with her style of writing and narration. However THE WOMEN IN HIS LIFE is not as flawless as her other novels and a little predictable from the start. Totally worth a read though.

[Rosemary Terryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

She is one of my favorite author's. This novel was superb just like all her novels. Once one starts her novels, you become so engrossed that you want to keep reading. Her books are hard to put down . Unfortunately, you hate for them to end.

[Naliza Fahro-Rozi · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the streets of London to the suites of New York, from the rise of Nazi Germany to the fall of the Berlin Wall, THE WOMEN IN HIS LIFE takes us on an unforgettable journey of survival, secrets, love and redemption that mesmerizes from first page to last.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-1/2 stars

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good but way to long

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good reading

Loved the way it was written. I was just never a history buff. It was an excellent way to read about Germany and Great Britain. Great story.

[BettyLou · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story to end all stories

A page turner of non stop proportion. A life lived with so many Women unique unto themselves. Sorry it ended.

[Mary G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a little more intense than I thought it would be. Would have liked a more in depth ending but enjoyed it overall.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Although the author’s constant preoccupation with how the characters were dressed was sometimes distracting. Oh, how the other half lives!

[Massimo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good! Not a masterpiece

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Barbara Taylor bradford book I have read so far. It was brilliant