Madcap May: Mistress of Myth, Men, and Hope

by Richard Kurin

May Yohe was a popular entertainer from humble American origins who married and then abandoned a wealthy English Lord who owned the fabled Hope diamond--one of the most valuable objects in the world and now exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. May was a romantic who had numerous lovers and at least three husbands--though the tabloids rumored twelve. One included the playboy son of the Mayor of New York. May separated from him--twice--and cared for her next husband, a South African war hero and invalid whom she later shot.

Crossing the paths of Ethel Barrymore, Boris Karloff, Oscar Hammerstein, Teddy Roosevelt, Consuelo Vanderbilt, and the Prince of Wales, May Yohe was a foul-mouthed, sweet-voiced showgirl who drew both the praise and rebuke of Nobel laureate George Bernard Shaw. Nicknamed "Madcap May," she was a favorite of the press. In later years she faced several maternity claims and a law suit which she won. She was hospitalized in an insane asylum and escaped. She ran a rubber plantation in Singapore, a hotel in New Hampshire, and a chicken farm in Los Angeles. When all else failed, she washed floors in a Seattle shipyard, and during the Depression held a job as a government clerk. Shortly before her death, she fought, successfully, to regain her lost U.S. citizenship.

How was this woman, May Yohe, able to charm her way to international repute, live an impossible life, and also find the strength to persevere in light of the losses she suffered--in wealth, citizenship, love, and sanity? Madcap May, assembled from her writings and historical interviews, archival records, newspaper stories, scrapbooks, photographs, playbills, theatrical reviews, souvenirs, and silent film, tells her heretofore lost story.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Orsolya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let’s admit something: most of us are fascinated by the train-wreck, tabloid-filled lives of celebrities. However, before there was Lindsay Lohan, or Kim Kardashian, or even Elizabeth Taylor; there was “Madcap” May Yohe. One can, without a doubt, assume that Yohe would be gracing the pages of People or Us if she was alive today. Richard Kurin portrays this almost- illusive figure in “Madcap May: Mistress of Myth, Men, and Hope”.

Kurin opens “Madcap May” with an accessible yet intellectual prose which smoothly delivers information and introduces the life of Mary Yohe. The negative issue lays in Kurin’s focus on background or side information which indirectly relates to May. Yes, this reveals May’s roots to readers but much of this is over-extended with coverage and leaves May as a sort of supporting figure. May’s true psyche or thoughts are not revealed (although “Madcap May” is well supplemented with quotes).

Exploring deeper, the text is chunky in terms of May’s life with one paragraph mentioning ’Event A’ and then suddenly being in the middle of ’Event B’ and not explaining the interim or transition events in May’s life. Whether this is because of author choice or due to a lack of sources; it inhibits story-telling and understanding.

Kurin has the repeated tendency to describe May with certain attributes or in eulogy terms but doesn’t necessarily back up his statements. “Madcap May” leaves readers with unanswered questions and without a convincing view of May’s personality. Furthermore, “Madcap May” presents inconsistencies as some sections read as nothing more than chronological whereabouts and strings of media clippings while others are more interesting featuring quotes and emissions from May herself (almost like a memoir).

The latter ¾ of “Madcap May” bears more excitement due to the actual events in May’s life. However, Kurin’s coverage merely grazes the surface and begs for in-depth analysis. Moreover, the conclusion feels abrupt and lacking a powerful note.

“Madcap May” is broken up with several illustrations, drawings, and genealogical tables versus a section of color plates common to most biographies. This can either help the reader envision the current text or cause some distraction.

To sum up: Kurin has a wonderful literary and writing style (and thus, “Madcap May” is written well); but it failed to truly portray May Yohe. In effect, the book is more of an introduction to May than anything else (AND a fast read, only taking a little more than a day). The information available would have deemed better as a fictional work, as “Madcap May” boasts of May’s crazy antics but fails to deliver. “Madcap May” is recommended for those new to May Yohe but not for a multi-level study.

[Barbara (Bobby) Title · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my kind of book from beginning to end, from the preface to the epilogue and spilling over into the timeline, the acknowledgements, the notes, the illustration credits, through to the Index. In my non-professional, non-Ph.D. way, as an ordinary genealogist I have often wished that I had been able to research like Dr. Kurin has done - finding a little piece of something that has caught my eye and been able to bring it to the light in the way he has.

I learned SO much from his story. I had some vague knowledge of Moravians, but his first chapter just about blew me away. As he laid down the foundations of Madcap May's family heritage, the religious and philosophical underpinnings of those Moravians became more than just one more sect's faith and practices. It was out of this milieu that May and her approach to life evolved.

But in addition to this, the Gay Nineties era, WWI, the flapper years and into the depression and thereabout really became real as Dr. Kurin researched May through them. Through the entire book May comes across as an unbelievably self-confident (and sometimes bizarre) woman in charge of her own life and, as strange as it seems, in charge of others who populate it.

As a genealogist, I appreciated one of his closing paragraphs in which he repeats every genealogists' lament: " If we could track down Thomas's descendants and the descendants of May's known relatives...and rule out...." "If only..." Dr. Kurin, we know that feeling.

However, readers, don't think this is a dry-as-a-bone genealogy book. It is a romp! Who'd'a thought that MadCap May herself could be so darn interesting?

[Jessica T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not the best biography I have ever read but the author seemed to cherish his subject. I got the feeling he was trying to save her from obscurity. I hope that someone picks up where he left off.

[Holly McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may be the best biography I've ever read of someone I've never heard of! May Yohe, star of stage and vaudeville from the 1880s to the 1920s puts quite a different twist on the "Victorian era!" Globe-trotting by steamship and ever open to the blandishments of a new lover, May was quite the free-spirit. That she was once married to the owner of the Hope diamond (which she claims to have worn but likely never did) just adds extra sparkle to the story. Anyone interested in the rich and(or) famous at the turn of the 20th century will find the story fascinating.

[Wilmina Rundle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this biography of May Yohe, a 19th century actress with a larger than life personality, and a "you-can't-make-up-this-stuff" life story. I had not heard of her before but after reading this book, I wish I could have a cup of tea and a good long visit with Madcap May. An excellent read.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

One other reviewer already said it. This is the best biography I've read about someone I've never heard of. This was a pretty quick read and thoroughly enjoyable. May really was madcap and lived an interesting, often scandalous, life. I think this book did a good job of bringing May back to life. How funny that someone like this could be forgotten.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was very interesting and I was shocked to read that this woman did not care at the time what society thought about her and her life. It was a fast read and I would recommend it to anybody who likes to learn about history.

[Dian Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting character I've never heard of through history. The only reason I deducted a star was that the writer's voice is a little "academic". The retelling of Madcap May's story could have been more interesting. The parts that hold your attention are when he is using her own words to describe her actions and choices. In in those brief paragraphs May becomes fully fleshed out, someone you want to get to know. The remainder of the book is more fact based. Drawing from a lot of through research, it reads dry at several points.
Otherwise a great read. If you think Kim Kardashian is impressive for her ability to craft her own image and narrative, she's got nothin' on Ms. May!

[Diana H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never even heard of May Yohe (rhymes with snowy), until I picked up this book. Her story is a rollicking good time (even when things don't necessarily go her way). She had what they used to call "pluck".
If you aren't really into reading biographies, this would be a good starter bio for you. The chapters are short, so the book feels like its moving along at a good pace. The author does a great job taking Yohe's life and making it a cohesive story rather than just a lot of facts.

[Phdrseuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never heard of Madcap May and decided to read this out of curiosity. She was an American (musical theatre) actress who was born Mary Augusta "May" Yohe. She would later go by the name May Yohe and Madcap May. In the beginning she was a sensation and sold out her shows. Her career began in the mid/late 1880s. She would also go through 3 interesting marriages. I found it worth the read, especially if you are interested in learning about someone you've never heard of before.

[Mark Bondurant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of May Johe, a forgotten genuine free spirit of the 1890's. Victorian enthusiasts will want to read this, but for the information, not the pleasure. It's not exactly the best read. The author tried to tie her life in with the hope diamond, with limited success, and the Hope fortune, again with limited success. It was clearly padding. I think the problem was the lack of information about May herself. I could wish, for instance, for more information about her years as a war nurse. There could have been more drama about her time as a cleaning lady. Stage reviews are great, but society gossip, which should be just as available, would have been better. He quoted people describing her life of sin, but there was little sin described. And if she was innocent, why was she innocent? He could have dug a little deeper, perhaps delayed the book for a couple of years.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it took me a while to get around to reading it (I had borrowed my mom's copy for, um, the past year), it was a fast and interesting read once I began. It was inevitable, of course, that I read it (I live in Bethlehem and lead ghost tours and May gets mentioned thoroughly) but I was pleased to find that it was a solid read that I really enjoyed. She had one heck of a life and it had the feel of a Great American Novel in some ways - despite being factual. The Fall of the Promising Child, etc. Very Fitzgerald indeed. May was incredibly flawed, incredibly charming, and incredibly HERSELF. I will now twitch and giggle more whenever false stories of the Hope Diamond are brought up in conversation.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book!! It provided a great escape from 2013; the pictures are awesome; and it's written by a Smithsonian historian!!! What more could you ask for?! The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because the end is not as good as the beginning...but maybe that's just a function of the life of Mary August Yohe!!

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of mild historical interest. The authors chief interest came from the Hope Diamond and it's place in history and the Smithsonian Institution. May was a mildly talented climber. I will say this, as her life continued into a downward spiral, early enough on in her career, she did keep striving, up until the end, but what a messy existence she chose.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author seems to have relied heavily on the research he'd already done for his book on the Hope Diamond, possibly to the detriment of May's story. The narrative had rough patches, and it felt like some parts of her story were glossed over, but overall I enjoyed it.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about someone I never heard of. I was staying at the Hotel Bethlehem and was in the gift shop browsing when I saw this book. It intrigued me do I bought it. Very interesting book and lady. I enjoyed reading about her.

[Karen Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting 'era' book. Well written. Lots of interesting information about the Hope Diamond, which the author has also written about.http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...#

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just beginning this book for Epworth Book club and so far it is filled with many facts and figures. Much history and certainly May Yohe led a fantastic life.