Bit of a Blue: The Life and Work of Frances Fuller Victor

by Jim Martin

First biography of a noted 19th century historian and woman's rights advocate who, in the words of a contemporary observer, "occupied a position without a peer in the annals of Western literature." She wrote 11 books and many articles about the life and history of the Pacific coast.

277 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1992

Reviews

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading this book because my assignment is to write a very short biography of Frances Fuller Victor for a local history book, volume II of Women Belong in History Books: Herkimer and Oneida Counties New York 1799-1950, and Frances Victor was born in my hometown. She only lived there for 4 years but still, it must have had an influence on her. There is something in the water there that makes women (say it with an accent while knocking your fist against the side of your head) "stubborn like mule."

This book uses LOTS of quotes from Victor's work, which breaks up the text but has the advantage of showing us both her dead-on descriptions and her caustic wit. And, while she was a women's rights activist, she did not seem to me to be radical in any way. She was devoted to and dependent upon her husband and was devastated when he was killed. She just wanted a level playing field.