Reviews

Ladies of Liberty : The Women who Shaped our Nation by Cokie Roberts

marystevens's review against another edition

4.0

Cokie Roberts, our former Mayor Barbara Sigmund's sister, paints a vivid picture of what the women of the second half of the Revolutionary War era were saying and doing while the men struggled to form a new nation out of the colonies and the frontier. We get a much fuller picture of what the men were really like as they wrote to their women folk and also of the behind the scenes work of the ladies. It was considered unseemly for a man to campaign for himself; surrogates would campaign for him and the wives would preside over balls and parties that would facilitate their husbands aspirations.
She also covers important women outside of politics, like Emma Willard who founded the first secondary education for girls (where I went to school) and St. Rose Duchesne who founded the Sacred Heart Schools (where I sent my daughter) . There's a long passage on Sacajawea too.
It's an informative and fun read.

pelachick's review against another edition

4.0

Not quote as good as the first book but still quite entertaining. It is interesting to read some history of the beginnings of the country from the point of view of the women.

libraryjen's review against another edition

3.0

If you're looking for in-depth historical analysis, look elsewhere. If you're looking to learn a bit about these ladies and this time period and be entertained at the same time, give this one a try. I've heard criticism that Roberts judges some of these people through modern eyes without giving a lot of thought to the prevailing views of the time, and I have to agree. However, when that happens it's obvious and the reader can draw their own conclusions easily enough.
I found this book to be a nice overview of the roles of some of the most influential women in America at the time. It lays a nice foundation for further research if you're so inclined.
I laughed and I learned as I listened to (narrated by the author). I definitely recommend it. 3 solid stars.

lizdesole's review against another edition

3.0

I love the topic and loved her previous book "Founding Mothers" so I was a bit disappointed with this. The stories were not as engaging although that might not be the author's fault. I also found the book poorly organized. It really could have benefitted from subheadings at the very least to transition from one person's story to the next within a chapter

chinesa72's review against another edition

4.0

I learned so much from this book that I desperately wish I had learned in school.

copresidentofknitting's review

3.0

really liked the idea behind this book and that's what initially drew me in to it. i enjoyed it and found it informative and opened by eyes to the role that women did play in america at the time. i thought it was really well researched and it really made these people feel real and vibrant. HOWEVER, i wish that the book was organized somewhat differently so that it could have a bit more clarity instead of hopping back and forth between some women and mentioning some and never discussing them again. also, the ending seemed very abrupt and kind of awkward but all-in-all it was a good and informative read.

debnanceatreaderbuzz's review

4.0

The first book I read on my Kindle. I was so fascinated with my new toy that I missed some of the narrative. Ladies of Liberty takes up where Roberts’ previous book on famous early American women leaves off. John Adams’ wife continues to run the lives of both her husband, now a retired president, and her son, now an active politician. Dolly Madison shone in this book, as a negotiator and as a social network organizer. One gripe: I was dismayed to read about table settings and ladies’ dresses so frequently.