Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation by Cokie Roberts Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation
Book Review: The Founding Fathers' "Significant Others"
Summary: 5 Stars
I enjoyed Cokie Roberts' earlier book, Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, and on the basis of that, I gave LADIES OF LIBERTY a spin.
While I know a little bit about US history, Roberts' new book contains material that is a revelation. The letters of former First Ladies and other women who were on the scene at the founding of our nation provides the primary source material. Their takes from yesteryear on topics as diverse as infant mortality, foreign policy, and hats (!) gives a new and much-needed perspective on life and culture in early America.
While women are obviously and profoundly influential on historical events in America, Roberts had to closely study their correspondences to learn how. (In other words, "traditional" histories aren't necessarily helpful in this regard.) While perusing the letters of an age gone by, the author shows her eye for the telling (and juicy) anecdote, and she does an excellent and witty job of putting these words from yesteryear into context for the contemporary reader.
As what I've written so far reads like well-meaning blather, the best way to share my thoughts is this way:
Highly recommended!
Book Review: My wife was right! (again).
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not a big reader of nonfiction, and when I saw the cover of this book it made me yawn. My wife really wanted me to read it though so I was forced to give it a try. I was familiar with Cokie Roberts as a Political commentator but not an author, so first let me say Cokie has an engaging writing style that brought the stories of these women of history to life. Cokie is a gifted story teller and these true stories about the Ladies of Liberty had me turning the pages faster then I imagined. The stories of Martha Jefferson, Dolly Madison, Abby Adams, Eliza Hamilton, and even Sacajawea fascinating and I was enlightened to learn of there accomplishments through many difficulties. We have all heard the stories of the founding fathers, but here is the story of the founding mothers. Along with Across the High Lonesome my favorite book so far of 2008! (and both books were recommend by my wife!).