Overview

Praised by her mentor John Adams, Mercy Otis Warren was America's first woman playwright and female historian of the American Revolution. In this unprecedented biography, Nancy Rubin Stuart reveals how Warren's provocative writing made her an exception among the largely voiceless women of the eighteenth century.

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9780807055175

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Reviews

As Stuart demonstrates, Warren was a woman of independent hopes and dreams. . . If there is one thing that the reading of our past teaches us, it's that we should always judge historical figures within their context . . . In Nancy Rubin Stuart's comprehensive The Muse of the Revolution, Warren emerges as one of the unsung heroes of the Revolution, brandishing a mean pen in place of musket or sword. Stuart reminds us that the U.S. Constitution--notably the Bill of Rights--carries Mercy Otis Warren's fingerprints as much if not more than those of most constitutional delegates. . . . This wonderfully researched and readable book has done an excellent job of giving another view of what it took to make this country.--Library Journal, starred review A valiant resurrection of an important early American author. --Kirkus A fascinating reminder . . . that the ideals of independence resonated as strongly with American women as with American men. --Christine M. Kreiser, American History Death by lightning, duels, treason, smallpox, 16-page rants written with quill pens, nervous breakdowns. This may sound like the stuff of an overwrought period novel, but it's straightforward fact in Nancy Rubin Stuart's nuanced biography of Mercy Otis Warren. --Kathleen Willcox, Bust Stuart has artfully set the story in the context of the Revolution . . . . A lively introduction to the great Mercy Otis Warren. --Edith Gelles, Wilson Quarterly Should be required reading in American history classes . . . . Warren was one of the great scribes of our American Revolutionary era. --Larry and Saralee Woods, American Spirit Warren emerges as a fully fleshed-out woman with literary insecurities, intractable opinions and a high-strung temper as well as deep affection for her husband and sons. Stuart includes fascinating period details, focusing primarily on Warren's home-front experiences of rampant inflation, scarcity of goods, high taxes and profiteering during the Revolution as well as typical 18th-century illnesses and family anxieties. Most poignantly, Stuart depicts Warren's loneliness and despair after the deaths of three of her five sons. This account is valuable as an eyewitness play-by-play of the American Revolution. --Publishers Weekly Stuart reminds us that the U.S. Constitution notably the Bill of Rights carries Mercy Otis Warren's fingerprints as much if not more than those of most constitutional delegates. . . . This wonderfully researched and readable book has done an excellent job of giving another view of what it took to make this country. Library Journal, starred review A valiant resurrection of an important early American author. Kirkus A fascinating reminder . . . that the ideals of independence resonated as strongly with American women as with American men. Christine M. Kreiser, American History Death by lightning, duels, treason, smallpox, 16-page rants written with quill pens, nervous breakdowns. This may sound like the stuff of an overwrought period novel, but it's straightforward fact in Nancy Rubin Stuart's nuanced biography of Mercy Otis Warren. Kathleen Willcox, Bust Stuart has artfully set the story in the context of the Revolution . . . . A lively introduction to the great Mercy Otis Warren. Edith Gelles, Wilson Quarterly Should be required reading in American history classes . . . . Warren was one of the great scribes of our American Revolutionary era. Larry and Saralee Woods, American Spirit Warren emerges as a fully fleshed-out woman with literary insecurities, intractable opinions and a high-strung temper as well as deep affection for her husband and sons. Stuart includes fascinating period details, focusing primarily on Warren's home-front experiences of rampant inflation, scarcity of goods, high taxes and profiteering during the Revolution as well as typical 18th-century illnesses and family anxieties. Most poignantly, Stuart depicts Warren's loneliness and despair after the deaths of three of her five sons. This account is valuable as an eyewitness play-by-play of the American Revolution. Publishers Weekly Stuart reminds us that the U.S. Constitution-notably the Bill of Rights-carries Mercy Otis Warren's fingerprints as much if not more than those of most constitutional delegates. . . . This wonderfully researched and readable book has done an excellent job of giving another view of what it took to make this country. - Library Journal , starred review A valiant resurrection of an important early American author. - Kirkus A fascinating reminder . . . that the ideals of independence resonated as strongly with American women as with American men. -Christine M. Kreiser, American History Death by lightning, duels, treason, smallpox, 16-page rants written with quill pens, nervous breakdowns. This may sound like the stuff of an overwrought period novel, but it's straightforward fact in Nancy Rubin Stuart's nuanced biography of Mercy Otis Warren. -Kathleen Willcox, Bust Stuart has artfully set the story in the context of Stuart reminds us that the U.S. Constitution--notably the Bill of Rights--carries Mercy Otis Warren's fingerprints as much if not more than those of most constitutional delegates. . . . This wonderfully researched and readable book has done an excellent job of giving another view of what it took to make this country. Essential for academic and public libraries. --Library Journal, starred review A valiant resurrection of an important early American author. --Kirkus This commendable biography follows the life of New England patriot Mercy Otis Warren (1728-1814), the celebrated--and sometimes reviled--writer of poems, plays, history, and satire. . . . Warren emerges as a fully fleshed-out woman with literary insecurities, intractable opinions, and a high-strung temper . . . [and] Stuart includes fascinating period details. . . . This account is valuable as an eyewitness play-by-play of the American Revolution and will be a great resource to scholars of women's and literary history. --Publishers Weekly

Stuart reminds us that the U.S. Constitution--notably the Bill of Rights--carries Mercy Otis Warren's fingerprints as much if not more than those of most constitutional delegates. . . . This wonderfully researched and readable book has done an excellent job of giving another view of what it took to make this country.--@lt;i@gt;Library Journal@lt;/i@gt;, starred review@lt;br@gt;@lt;br@gt; A valiant resurrection of an important early American author. --@lt;i@gt;Kirkus@lt;/i@gt;@lt;br@gt;@lt;br@gt; A fascinating reminder . . . that the ideals of independence resonated as strongly with American women as with American men. --Christine M. Kreiser, @lt;i@gt;American History@lt;/i@gt;@lt;br@gt;@lt;br@gt; Death by lightning, duels, treason, smallpox, 16-page rants written with quill pens, nervous breakdowns. This may sound like the stuff of an overwrought period novel, but it's straightforward fact in Nancy Rubin Stuart's nuanced biography of Mercy Otis Warren. --Kathleen Willcox, @lt;i@gt;Bust

Stuart reminds us that the U.S. Constitution--notably the Bill of Rights--carries Mercy Otis Warren's fingerprints as much if not more than those of most constitutional delegates. . . . This wonderfully researched and readable book has done an excellent job of giving another view of what it took to make this country.-- Library Journal, starred review A valiant resurrection of an important early American author. -- Kirkus A fascinating reminder . . . that the ideals of independence resonated as strongly with American women as with American men. --Christine M. Kreiser, American History Death by lightning, duels, treason, smallpox, 16-page rants written with quill pens, nervous breakdowns. This may sound like the stuff of an overwrought period novel, but it's straightforward fact in Nancy Rubin Stuart's nuanced biography of Mercy Otis Warren. --Kathleen Willcox, Bust Stuart has artfully set the story in the context of the Revolution . . . . A lively introduction to the great Mercy Otis Warren. --Edith Gelles, Wilson Quarterly Should be required reading in American history classes . . . . Warren was one of the great scribes of our American Revolutionary era. --Larry and Saralee Woods, American Spirit Warren emerges as a fully fleshed-out woman with literary insecurities, intractable opinions and a high-strung temper as well as deep affection for her husband and sons. Stuart includes fascinating period details, focusing primarily on Warren's home-front experiences of rampant inflation, scarcity of goods, high taxes and profiteering during the Revolution as well as typical 18th-century illnesses and family anxieties. Most poignantly, Stuart depicts Warren's loneliness and despair after the deaths of three of her five sons. This account is valuable as an eyewitness play-by-play of the American Revolution. -- Publishers Weekly

Stuart reminds us that the U.S. Constitution&mdash;notably the Bill of Rights&mdash;carries Mercy Otis Warren's fingerprints as much if not more than those of most constitutional delegates. . . . This wonderfully researched and readable book has done an excellent job of giving another view of what it took to make this country. &mdash; Library Journal , starred review <br> A valiant resurrection of an important early American author. &mdash; Kirkus<br> <br> A fascinating reminder . . . that the ideals of independence resonated as strongly with American women as with American men. &mdash;Christine M. Kreiser, American History<br> <br> Death by lightning, duels, treason, smallpox, 16-page rants written with quill pens, nervous breakdowns. This may sound like the stuff of an overwrought period novel, but it's straightforward fact in Nancy Rubin Stuart's nuanced biography of Mercy Otis Warren. &mdash;Kathleen Willcox, Bust<br> <br> Stuart has artfully set the story in the context of

Author Information

"Nancy Rubin Stuart is an award-winning author, journalist and writer-producer who specializes in women and social history. Her previous books includeThe Reluctant Spiritualist: The Life of Maggie Fox, American Empress: The Life and Times of Marjorie Merriweather Post, and Isabella of Castile: The First Renaissance Queen. In connection with her work she has appeared on several national television series and on NPR's ""Morning Edition."" Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and many national magazines. She currently serves as one of the directors of the Women Writing Women's Lives Seminar at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. While researching Mercy Otis Warren, she received a 2005 William Randolph Hearst Fellowship from the American Antiquarian Society. She lives in Manhattan with her husband."

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