Women's Letters: America from the Revolutionary War to the Present

by Lisa Grunwald, Stephen J. Adler (Editor)

Historical events of the last three centuries come alive through these women’s singular correspondences—often their only form of public expression. In 1775, Rachel Revere tries to send financial aid to her husband, Paul, in a note that is confiscated by the British; First Lady Dolley Madison tells her sister about rescuing George Washington’s portrait during the War of 1812; one week after JFK’s assassination, Jacqueline Kennedy pens a heartfelt letter to Nikita Khrushchev; and on September 12, 2001, a schoolgirl writes a note of thanks to a
New York City firefighter, asking him, “Were you afraid?”

The letters gathered here also offer fresh insight into the personal milestones in women’s lives. Here is a mid-nineteenth-century missionary describing a mastectomy performed without anesthesia; Marilyn Monroe asking her doctor to spare her ovaries in a handwritten note she taped to her stomach before appendix surgery; an eighteen-year-old telling her mother about her decision to have an abortion the year after Roe v. Wade; and a woman writing to her parents and in-laws about adopting a Chinese baby.

With more than 400 letters and over 100 stunning photographs, Women’s Letters is a work of astonishing breadth and scope, and a remarkable testament to the women who lived–and made–history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Feminism, American History, Womens, Historical, American

832 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Lisa Grunwald is the author of the novels The Evolution of Annabel Craig, Time After Time, The Irresistible Henry House, Whatever Makes You Happy, New Year's Eve, The Theory of Everything, and Summer. Along with her husband, former Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen J. Adler, she edited the bestselling anthologies The Marriage Book, Women's Letters and Letters of the Century. Grunwald is an occasional essayist and runs a side hustle on Etsy called ProcrastinationArts, where she sells other things she makes with pencils and paper. She lives in New York City.
Photo courtesy of author website.

Reviews

[AskHistorians]

Primary source collection. Letters, all transcribed and easy to read. Famous women and un-famous women. It's wonderful, you can pick it up, read one or two, put it down, or curl up with it for hours. Some letters will really just break your heart.

[Venus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Technically a DNF.

This definitely isn't my cup of tea though I generally enjoy books like this. The vast majority of the letters I read in the first 500~ pages of this doorstopper were absolutely boring. I spent another 100 pages or so skimming for the interesting ones and decided to leave it at that when I didn't find many more.

A technically DNF because there's 200 pages left.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume--a gift from Brynn--goes on the "perpetually reading" shelf. It's an excellent collection of letters, the perfect thing to pick up when you're in between books or just want a change of scene.

I think it would also be neat to pair selections from this book while reading an American history, especially if reading about a time in which women's voices were not included in the official record.

Also, and my testimony is proof, a great gift.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually loved this book. It is a collection of letters from women dating from the Revolutionary War up through today (well, today when this book was put together - last letter dated 2004). There are letters from famous women, and from women whose names we would never know had they not put pen to paper and written to somebody. Women on farms, women in the White House, women in factories, in covered wagons, in fancy salons. It was absolutely riveting. However I was forced to take away a star. Many issues were discussed in these letters, from slavery to war to raids from the native Americans who didn't like losing their land. Every single issue was thoughtfully covered, and a real effort was made to show - if not both sides of the story, per se, because the most passionate defense of slavery is still, you know, wrong - that there were people of conscience, education, character etc. thoughtfully putting their opinions on paper. This came to a screeching halt when we reached the abortion issue. There is only one pro life letter (and the editors point out rather snidely that that really means anti-abortion, which is fine. I'll wear both names because they mean the exact same thing) and it is from a woman who bombed multiple abortion clinics. Seriously? The editors could not find one honorable person who wrote a letter thoughtfully disagreeing with them on this issue? I don't buy it and call them on it. So I took off a star. Actually I took off 2 on the presumption that if they are shading their choice of letters to fit their own beliefs (and give me another reason for it and I have a bridge you might want to buy), then it probably happened in other areas too and I just didn't spot them because they may not have been 'my' issue. But then I read the beautiful letter Yoko Ono wrote to the parole board trying to keep her husband's murderer in jail and after ugly crying at work over it I gave back a star. That one caveat aside (and frankly it is a big one because it casts the entire selection process into doubt) this book was fascinating, riveting and excellent to read.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Putting together almost any collection of letters written by women, I am sure, has its challenges. I found many letters to be interesting and the historical context provided helped. Some letters I shrugged off. I understood them to be relevant in providing some of a picture, but not all piqued my interest. I don’t know that I wholly agree with the entirety of the selection representing what was relevant to the time. Still, I learned from the book and enjoyed some insight from women’s voices.

[Dawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extensive collection; all very interesting & informative. Some are even surprising, considering the women who penned them. I liked the insight into the personal lives & points of view of many of history's most famous & influential women. Such a treasure are these letters that have been preserved & will be for the future. It is truly sad that letter writing has become so rare.

[Dellastarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just started sampling this collection. I do love epistemology and all such loves. Hence reading The Correspondent too. Letters.....

[Karisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to campaign for my book club to put this one on our list. It's a compilation of letters that women have written through the years, and it was fascinating. It starts out in the 1770s and goes to present time. You just skip around and read whatever sounds interesting. I spent most of my time reading Revolutionary War era letters and also letters from the mid-1900s. A lot of our history is written from the male perspective (since women weren't given formal education for a long time, and many could not write), and it was so refreshing and interesting to read the female point of view. This compilation of letters made history come alive for me. I think this is a must-read for everyone.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book compiling letters from a variety of women throughout US history. I have not read the whole thing (my copy is 800 pages) but I went through and read letters from years that are meaningful to me. I would love to read the whole thing at some point. It would be great for a US history class. I love that it gives all types of women voices. We don't often hear their side of history. One letter that stuck with me is a girl who dressed as a man to fight in the civil war. She died on the battlefield and gave her last words to be sent by telegraph to her father asking for his forgiveness.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a gift that will keep on giving as the many letters that were written from 1775 to 2004 will undoubtedly give me enjoyment and inspiration for some time to come. I have put it beside my bed to read just a few each day so I can take the time to reflect on them but the book creeped downstairs this morning because I wanted to keep reading. The very first letter is a short note from an Abigail Grant berating her husband for acting cowardly at Bunker Hill. She offers to take his place if he will come home and care for their children! Thank you, Eileen, for this special book.

[Penni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, I love the parts I have read in this book and someday I am looking forward to completing. The only thing is this book is too big and bulky to haul with me and since it is a collection of letters I tend to pick it up only occasionally to read a page or two. I must find a convenient place to put this book so I can return often. Too bulky for the car where I do most of my reading when in waiting rooms or waiting for the granddaughters and their many activities since I tend to spend my days as a Taxi.

[Sherri]

Just bought this last week - I like reading letters - they seem so personal. So far its a bit slow b/c I'm in the 18th century letters, which I find a bit bland, but I think overall its amazing to read history this way.

[Barb Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book of historical letters written by women. Some were to friends, family, husbands etc. This gave alot of insight into womens lives and their daily life and political/ historical happenings at time of the writtings.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book to read in sections. How the art of letter writing has vanished! It does include some e-mails at the end, but it's just not the same. You have to think more and have more time to think when you're writing long-hand.

I have this book to loan if anyone is interested.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great primary source. I used it for a few papers. It's also just an interesting collection. The authors compiled various letters written by women to their friends, family, etc about every historical topic imaginable. It's a great book to flip through.

[Diane Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love history! So often history books ignores women's role and experiences. This book allows you to read letters from women written between the 1700's and 2000's. This book contains 700+ pages of American history as seen through the eyes of the women who lived it.

[Beth Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love this book!! There are few better ways to understand the lives of women than through their letters. Small and day to day concerns are discussed right along side the more life changing events of war, love, birth and death. I cannot say enough good things about this compilation!

[Cortney]

This one would be awesome to read!

[Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a captivation in reading other people's letters and these by women portray the evolution of lives they grasp as possible and those not considered due to their era.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvelous book.

[Carrie]

American history,women's studies

[Karianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skimmed through many of the letters but is an interesting book if you have time for it. Felt a bit like a history text book.....

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book ever highly recommended naivally the history of the America in womens letters from 1775 to 2005

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring and insightful journey into the lives of both well known and ordinary women in America. This is a compilation of expressed dreams, fears and vision. "

[As · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really fun way to remember our history. Letters from woman who were in the upper "class" to slaves, really unique.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

bought 10/23/2016 FBL

[Elizabeth]

Women's Letters: America from the Revolutionary War to the Present (Paperback)
by Lisa Grunwald