A review by endomental
Beyond the Miracle Worker: The Remarkable Life of Anne Sullivan Macy and Her Extraordinary Friendship with Helen Keller by Kim E. Nielsen
4.0
It's hard to separate Anne Sullivan from Helen Keller, but author Kim Nielsen does certainly try.
Keller is kept on the periphery as much as possible in this biography, which pushes Annie's pedagogical accomplishments and tries to delve into her psychology. That Sullivan was argumentative and headstrong was probably what kept her alive and sane during her childhood years in the almhouse, and what pushed her to push young Helen Keller into communication. It also made her a difficult woman in many ways, and the book may rationalize, but doesn't apologize for her.
Keller is kept on the periphery as much as possible in this biography, which pushes Annie's pedagogical accomplishments and tries to delve into her psychology. That Sullivan was argumentative and headstrong was probably what kept her alive and sane during her childhood years in the almhouse, and what pushed her to push young Helen Keller into communication. It also made her a difficult woman in many ways, and the book may rationalize, but doesn't apologize for her.