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A review by okiecozyreader
Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
I honeymooned in the Boston area and went to Walden pond and saw the Orchard house, but I never heard of Margaret Fuller. I truly love how Allison Pataki finds these important women and tells their stories.
“Humanity is divided into men, women, and Margaret Fuller.” —Edgar Allan Poe (epigraph & p239)
The first part of this book, that largely encompasses Fuller’s life with that of Emerson, Thoreau and the Alcott families is interesting, but when she goes to Europe to report back for the New York Post, the story really blooms. Her time in Italy is so fascinating and it truly is too bad we will never know all that she wanted to say.
She did not marry until she was 37, so much is told in the book of the time she was a single woman, in a world where marriage and having a man was supremely important for a woman. She is fascinating for so many reasons, and Emerson’s support of her and belief in her as a contemporary also surprised me in the best way.
“I did not embellish any of the details of this time or these experiences; the raw material of the history was beyond anything I could have conjured.” Author’s note
“They can conquer who believe they can.” "Virgil's Aeneid. And my life's credo. P 17
“You ask why I have never married? My reason is that I have no interest in captivity." P20
“You may remain here discussing how your souls can aspire for great heights. I'll step out into the world to witness something that already knows how to reach great heights." P122
“The Much that always wants More. I am a woman who is too unapologetic in my desire to write, to think, to work.” P147
“If a thinking woman is offensive, then yes, I might offend a number of people. And I'll be happy to do SO." P152
“Let my life be a beautiful, powerful, in a word, a complete life in its kind. Had I but one more moment to live, I must wish the same.'" P 220
“It's not that I wish to marry simply to be married; it's that I wish to find a love so overpowering that there's no choice but to join myself with this other person.” P 235
“Humanity is divided into men, women, and Margaret Fuller.” —Edgar Allan Poe (epigraph & p239)
The first part of this book, that largely encompasses Fuller’s life with that of Emerson, Thoreau and the Alcott families is interesting, but when she goes to Europe to report back for the New York Post, the story really blooms. Her time in Italy is so fascinating and it truly is too bad we will never know all that she wanted to say.
She did not marry until she was 37, so much is told in the book of the time she was a single woman, in a world where marriage and having a man was supremely important for a woman. She is fascinating for so many reasons, and Emerson’s support of her and belief in her as a contemporary also surprised me in the best way.
“I did not embellish any of the details of this time or these experiences; the raw material of the history was beyond anything I could have conjured.” Author’s note
“They can conquer who believe they can.” "Virgil's Aeneid. And my life's credo. P 17
“You ask why I have never married? My reason is that I have no interest in captivity." P20
“You may remain here discussing how your souls can aspire for great heights. I'll step out into the world to witness something that already knows how to reach great heights." P122
“The Much that always wants More. I am a woman who is too unapologetic in my desire to write, to think, to work.” P147
“If a thinking woman is offensive, then yes, I might offend a number of people. And I'll be happy to do SO." P152
“Let my life be a beautiful, powerful, in a word, a complete life in its kind. Had I but one more moment to live, I must wish the same.'" P 220
“It's not that I wish to marry simply to be married; it's that I wish to find a love so overpowering that there's no choice but to join myself with this other person.” P 235
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and War