Beauty, Clothes and Things of This World Summary

Caroline Kennedy introduces this section with a remembrance of the style and grace of her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and the observation that she seemed to be a trend-setter as the first lady of President John Kennedy. Her originality, good taste and common sense gave Jackie a preeminence along American women who sought to emulate her. On her father's side of the family, none of the aunts were of Jackie's stylish flair and "preferred to look like their brothers," Caroline says. For that reason, her grandmother Rose Kennedy focused her grooming attention on her grandchildren.Caroline says she wanted to have poems in the collection that reflect "women's complicated relationship with beauty." The first selection in this section is Shakespeare's poetic description of Cleopatra in his play, "Antony and Cleopatra." He...