Kathleen Barry (1)

This biography is more than a feminist book as the author brings in other movements and famous individuals of the historical time, all in context of how Susan B. Anthony related to them. So we see Anthony's points of no compromise in her words to an evolving Abraham Lincoln -- whose legacy as the Great Emancipator interestingly would be used by her decades later when she attempted and failed to persuade Theodore Roosevelt in an appeal to his ego (her attempt inspired by having seen Booker T. Washington's influence on TR). We see Anthony's efforts for voting rights for women, sure, but woman's rights in general (property and marriage rights, for ex), in other words the woman's movement in general, and not just in general, but internationally. Also we see the woman's movement in relation not only with the abolition and antislavery movements, but also with the temperance movement. The book is good at covering various suffrage approaches -- for ex, relating the suffrage for blacks and exslaves (unless you're a woman) to the issue of suffrage for women (and disappointment w/Frederick Douglass), the question of "educated suffrage" or "universal suffrage" and their relation to the liquor industry/temperance movement to same, and so on. So many dynamics going on --for ex, it wasn't just famous black men (like Douglas) not empathizing with oppressed women, it was also white women (a hired secretary, who may not have been a feminist, not clear), not empathizing with blacks: specifically, after Anthony was impressed by the famous black journalist Ida Wells, she invited her over and told her to make use of her assistant for typing -- but when Anthony returned, Wells was writing everything out long hand -- yep, Anthony's female employee refused to type for a black woman! Of course she got the boot.

On display throughout are timeless examples of character and skill, such as diplomacy, strategy, tenacious focus, and above all, endurance: decades upon decades of self-sacrifice -- even up to death providing for the movement to continue, and all without seeing the ultimate victory of a suffrage for women Constitutional amendment, an amendment the book (frustratingly) didn't even note -- at least the epilogue, footnote or someplace should have mentioned it!

Bottom line, I recommend this book (as one with not just info but with skills to apply), even though I found the writing at times frustrating and the analysis misleading/inaccurate at points. (My main complaints are on issues that were not the focus -- theology of the time (Quakers/Calvinism/evangelicalism) and A. Lincoln characterizations .)… (meer)