Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation
Harper Perennial - Harper Perennial
Release date: 2005-02-15
Paperback
Author: Cokie Roberts
Social Science, Biography / Autobiography, Sociology, Historical - U.S., History / United States / General, Social Science / Women's Studies, United States - Revolutionary War, Women, Women's Studies - General, 18th century, 19th century, Biography, History, United States, Women in politics
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Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation
Date undefinedThis book is not just about the women who supported the men leading up to our Declaration of Independence and the Revolution. It may be "fiction", but it is based on many first hand letters, and written history so that the reader learns (or,and) relearns some basic facts about our country's fight for freedom. It is a very readable book.
Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation
Date undefinedAn interesting, though not particularly deep, look at the female relations of the men who get written about in the history books. Unfortunately, although Roberts makes much of the historical context when discussing how the women broke out of the mold, she does not give the historical context much thought when it comes to the men, leading her to be a bit harsh on the men sometimes.
Perhaps a bit more problematic is that approximately the entire second half of the book is really the same story about the men that we already know, with just brief glimpses of the women. What are we supposed to take away from this? That there's only enough about the "Founding Mothers" to write half a book? Or that, in the end, as interesting as they were, it wasn't the women who made the history after all? Well, we probably already knew that. But this book does give a brief glimpse into the trials and tribulations of the women behind the men.
Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation
Date undefinedWell intended and with too-few doses of contemporary perspective, commentary & humor, author Cokie Roberts examines some of the most remarkable women of the colonial era. Unfortunately, in her attempt to paint them as more than merely First Ladies and "Mrs." Washington, Adams, Madison, et al, Roberts comes up with a narrative that is often as slow going as a book report. Thorough, meticulous research doesn't necessarily deliver a good read.
This important and underreported patriots deserve a livelier treatment than they get here. And Cokie Roberts could certainly have managed better. Maybe the fault lies with Editorial's fear that making them more fascinating would somehow diminish their gravitas.
