About Florence

by Jim Hanson

Jim Hanson's About Florence is an extraordinary story, about redemption and abandonment, about lives cut short and lives lived to their fullest, and about the things that are told and the things that were not. Set against the backdrop of Chicago, from the late 19th century till now, it tells of a widow's migration from Norway with her three daughters and the family they were able to create. This narrative poem sketches the lives of these working women who did not count for much in their world, and the lives of their children and grandchildren. It's a journey of discovery that sheds light on how we live today, and how women and immigrants continue to struggle, against all odds, to make a place in America.

Audible Audio

First published November 8, 2018

Reviews

[Greg Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

About Florence was a delight to read.

It is a tremendous achievement in assembling family history, and rewards general readers as it builds beyond genealogy, ultimately to a deep appreciation for what ancestors provided. Through its deciphering of the arcane details of a dynasty, facts are jolted into meaning as the pentameter flows.

Readers can connect with the celebration of a personal history, its American story, its portrait of immigrants, and its masterly craft and its readability.

It's a remarkable project that is beautifully produced.