Book Review: One Woman's Voice by Thomas Leverett

 Book Review

 

Basic Details:

Book Title: One Woman's Voice

Subtitle: Biography of Elizabeth Mansfield Irving (1852-1939), elocutionist, patriot, women's rights pioneer

Author: Thomas Leverett

Genre: Biography & True Accounts

Part of a series? No

Order in series:

Best read after earlier books in series?

Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60820534-one-woman-s-voice

Overall score:

I scored this book 4/5

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Short Summary of the book:

I’m not really one for reading biographies, but this one was recommended to me by some friends. It tells the story of a woman who was not willing to conform to the rules of the time and set out to have a career; a successful one at that. The book was entertaining to read.

What I liked about the book:

I liked how Elizabeth went against the grain of the time and became successful, young woman, wife, young mother, then widow and single parent to young children.

What I didn’t like about the book:

There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about the book.

My favourite bits in the book:

The book was an enjoyable read.

My least favourite bits in the book:

I enjoyed the entire book.

Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I understand he has written more biographies.

What books could this be compared to and why?

This is a biography.

Recommendation:

In summary, I would recommend this book to the following readers:

 

Children	No
Young Adult	Yes
Adult	Yes

 

If you like biographies, this book may be the book for you.

Book Description by Author:

Elizabeth Mansfield Irving was born in New York State just before the Civil War, when elocution (speaking well and effectively) was a national pastime, and she loved to recite poems and speak. As a woman, she was somewhat limited in what she could do, but she was successful at reciting poetry at veterans' reunions and encampments, and made a national reputation as reader, particularly the poetry of her friend Kate Brownslee Sherwood. She also ran her husband's insurance business and taught elocution in Toledo over many decades. Through her life we can learn about the age of elocutionists (influenced by Delsarte) and the era when women found their voice, not only through suffrage but also through studying and learning elocution.

About the Author: