A fresh look at the life and times of Victoria Woodhull and Tennie Claflin; two sisters whose radical views on sex; love; politics; and business threatened the white male power structure of the nineteenth century and shocked the world. Here award-winning author Myra MacPherson deconstructs and lays bare the manners and mores of Victorian America; remarkably illuminating the struggle for equality that women are still fighting today. Victoria Woodhull and Tennessee "Tennie" Claflin-the most fascinating and scandalous sisters in American history-were unequaled for their vastly avant-garde crusade for women's fiscal; political; and sexual independence. They escaped a tawdry childhood to become rich and famous; achieving a stunning list of firsts. In 1870 they became the first women to open a brokerage firm; not to be repeated for nearly a century. Amid high gossip that he was Tennie's lover; the richest man in America; fabled tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt; bankrolled the sisters. As beautiful as they were audacious; the sisters drew a crowd of more than two thousand Wall Street bankers on opening day. A half century before women could vote; Victoria used her Wall Street fame to become the first woman to run for president; choosing former slave Frederick Douglass as her running mate. She was also the first woman to address a United States congressional committee. Tennie ran for Congress and shocked the world by becoming the honorary colonel of a black regiment.
#258221 in Books Berkley Trade 2010-04-06 2010-04-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.20 x .70 x 5.40l; .60 #File Name: 0425232530336 pagesGreat product!
Review
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful. Interesting insight into the eternal wait for .... the endBy Lesley WestThis is rather a difficult book to classify; as I haven't read it as a history as such; but rather an interesting overview of how we human beings apparently have; throughout time; been patiently (or impatiently as the case may be) waiting for the end of time.I confess to being a keen devourer of apocolypse and post-apocolypse fiction; so it has been very interesting to read how different societies have considered that perhaps all that we have will soon enough come to an end; usually based upon the cumulative evils of loose living and disrespect for one's deity. Indeed; much has been said in recent times of our modern world's moral and economic collapse; and some people genuinely believe that we are living in "end times".If you believe this and think that this will give you further insight; this is NOT the book for you. Sharan Newman has a rather wicked sense of humour; which I appreciate immensely (for example when discussing horned beasts which are prevalent in many texts she comments that there must be a nest somewhere; probably in the bottomless pit); but I can see that this might not be the case for all. She does not labour on the beliefs of any particular faith; though The Bible is regularly mentioned as it is so well studied; and she does address the beliefs of the monoethist religions; as well as those brave individual souls who have; over time; announced that the world will end on such and such a date; only to be disappointed and forced to recalculate their stance. Even Nostadamus gets a chapter; as does the hype and hysteria that surrounds the Y2K bug.This is a really unusual; interesting and entertaining book; and which offers one final interesting insight - people who strongly believe that the end of the world is nigh; usually believe that they will be saved. I think this quite a telling point.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Witty and informative but lacking in depthBy M. T. Crenshaw7;5/10Medieval Historian turned novelist Sharan Newman takes us in a long journey that goes from the beginning of times to the modern era on an apocalyptic quest. Written just before of the end of the year 2012; the book replies to questions that were specially relevant that year: How have humanity; different cultures and civilisations dealt with the impending end of times? Which things do they have in common? Which elements are particular to each culture or religious group? Do all cultures have or had an Armageddon myth?This a book on popular History; simply written; but with a good reference system and serious research work. A wicked witty sense of humour pervades the entire book; so it is very enjoyable to read and will give you some laughing moments. However; this is a reliable book.The introduction and conclusion are simple and focused. Newman explains how she has approached the study; why some things are included and not others; as well as the common denominators or themes in all apocalyptic groups. There have been "gazillion" doomsday groups throughout History; so Newman has chosen the most significant historically; others that intrigued her; and others that are representative of patterns of behaviour and ideas among these movements. Then; we are presented with a straightforward chronological study that covers all major religions and areas but heavily sided on the Western Word and Christianity. However there is plenty of information about Muslim and Jews groups as well. Beyond Western Europe and the USA we are given some details about the Middle East; China; Nigeria; India; the Mayans; and some Indigenous people (the Cherokees and Hopi nations in the USA and the Natives of Guinea and Papua-New Guinea). Once we we enter in the modern era; each chapter has details about specific religious movements and groups; the leading figures and their specific views on the end of the world.The period and field covered is vast; so the research work involved is remarkable. Although primary sources are used; most of the book is based on secondary sources; something that is always questionable from a historical point of view especially if you are a doctorate. Yet; this book is addressed to the general public not to the Academia; and Newman does a great job at giving an overall view of the subject and is honest enough to mention some of the shortcomings of her own research when necessary. The reference notes system is good.I really enjoyed Newman's explanations on the Mayan Calendar; the Cargo Cults; the somewhat esoteric nerdy computation of a date for the end of times that obsessed scientists of the 18th and 19th century (Newton included); how the creation of the State of Israel was supported by fundamentalist Christian groups that did want the Jews to disappear; or the utopian happy and peaceful (rare!) end of time envisioned by Joachim de Fiore and Joseph Priestly; who are the exception to too many Armageddon nightmares. You certainly will find your favourite doomsday group and moment.One of the things I like the most about Newman is that she contextualises all the movements she discusses; and tries to explain them using the parameters of the cultural and religious humus they fed upon. I also loved the tables at the end of the book with a short summary of the dates; type; and brief description of the apocalyptic movements mentioned in the book.THE WEAKEST LINKSThe main downside of this book; to me; is that it is a bit one-dimensional as; from the very beginning; Newman discards going beyond the facts or even considering psychological or sociological theories to give some sort of explanation to the pervading "doomsdayness" of the history of the human race. The juice is always in the "why?"; as the "why?" is what gives us historical understanding. Therefore; questions that were were in my mind when I purchased this book are replied with lack of seriousness; for example why do humans need of this apocalyptic Armageddon in the modern world? She replies: "among nonreligious people is the same as that with ghosts; mutant ants; vampires; and invasions from space. Most of us don’t really believe in them; but it’s fun to let ourselves be scared for a while" (location 4496)": Other questions are not even posed. For example; which social or psychological function do they have; if any? Why dreams and visions are so important in millenarian beliefs? Why charisma and not integrity are associated with fundamentalist messianic movements? Why non-religious doomsday beliefs are so widespread in the age of technology beyond being "cool"? What is the Antichrist; specifically?At times the chapters stretch unnecessarily with details I found superfluous as there is not much information about the beliefs of a given group beyond them being millenarian. Besides; I missed more focus on other areas of the world. India is passed in a few pages; and I missed more details about Indigenous populations that did mythologies that do not fit in the major religions: Australian Aborigines; the Inuit; Sub-saharian pre-colonial societies. They are not even mentioned. Perhaps they never had any belief about the end of the world; but I would have loved being told so; if that is the case!There are too many "perhaps"; "it is said"; "my guess"; "probably"; "some say" and other vague language that is not always reference-based for my liking.WHAT WHAT WHAT?!I found this statement about Joachim de Fiore and my jaw dropped to the floor: "He was born in 1135 in the Italian town of Calabria" (Kindle's location 1455). Since when is Calabria a town? She means in a town in Calabria.Which town?Her biography of Nostradamus; footnote number three; states: "This biography is based on the work of Edgar Leroy in 1972. This book is almost impossible to find; showing that accuracy is not always rewarded. I have compiled this from quotes of his work in other sources. Not my favorite way of doing research". Isn't that what degree students do (and the sort of excuse they present) in end of the year essays?BAD KINDLE EDITIONI am tired of purchasing books on Kindle; being charged full price and finding that that they are badly rendered in e-book format; out of care; respect and consideration for the e-book reader. Like here. Look at the mess of the notes system in this book. The book uses endnotes as far as chapter 17; they are not numbered; but correlative; starting from a to z; then aa; ab; ac; and so on. Then; you get to chapter 18 and the notes start to be numbered; but they are endnotes at the end of each chapter not at the end of the book as the first; and they are not correlative between chapters. The final index is not paginated or linked; so partially useful. You can check for a specific word; and see if it is there; but if it is there; you won't know where. Ridiculous! And some misspelling and typos have not been corrected; like Giralamo instead of Girolamo..IN SHORTLight; entertaining and informative with a good deal of research and written with a great sense of humour; this History of the End of the World sheds light on the myriad forms that the fear of the end of times has taken among humans from different parts of the world; Christians especially. Yet; the great work is somewhat wasted by a lack of depth in a study that rarely goes beyond the merely factual.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Snappy; well-researched; pretty even-handed.By Future Green GirlI liked it. A lot. Sharan did a lot of background prep here. And this one absolutely meant to teach the reader. It reads like a textbook in spots; but that's OK with me. It is so heavy with scholarship; though; when she inserts little sly jokes every now and then; I felt disoriented. Was this meant to be a romp through history; irreverent and chatty; or was the aim to document facts and details and let the reader toss in their own comedic touches? I couldn't quite decide what I was reading. Overall; I can discern what the author had in mind and it pretty much held to that: presenting a catalog of apocalyptic prognostication; and you take it from there. Another concern I had is that some of the chapters were too short. I'd settle in to read about a group; and before I knew it; the chapter was done. It was long in spots but I needed more to chew on in others.I maintain she presented the material respectfully; overall. But; yeah; there is something damn funny about a ragged band of wanderers under bearskin cloaks but otherwise naked; reeking to high heavens (!); no doubt muttering to themselves; scary; and wild-eyed in the service of their beliefs. Read about the Mummyjums and I dare you to keep a straight face. Admittedly; I don't believe in any gods or religions as a freethinker; but you have to admit there IS humor in the more extreme circumstances. I didn't come to this book with an agenda. I wanted to know the background of end-of-world predictions; and Sharan handily made that happen. Her prose is plain-spoken and pulls no punches.Some groups and adherents were tragically misguided and were annihilated unjustly; no question of that. And then there were instances of groups all too eager to shed others' blood; who disagreed with them. Sad beyond doubt.I have to wonder; in the larger sense of things: what the heck is with THAT? It's an age-old question and I'm not about to step into that pile of...whatever. People slaughter each other in the name of religion. Fact.But there is a sticky matter of the end of the world which was heavily predicted; but never came to pass. Ever. And the people and sects in modern memory had stories to tell; even if it's just an accounting of their greed and decidedly unprincipled behavior.It'll happen someday; but until then; enjoy your life and those around you who love you; commit to doing what's right; look beyond your own nose; be grateful for the good you find...and party like it's 1999. Or; 2013; since the world is going to end on December 21; 2012. Dang. Does this mean I have to shop for the holidays? Thanks for THAT one; Mayans!I'm going with 4.5 stars on this one. I love the title; by the way!
