Wild Women of Boston: Mettle and Moxie in the Hub

by Dina Vargo

The sons of liberty are celebrated in the rebellious history of Boston—but what of their sisters? An audacious and determined procession of reformers, socialites, criminals and madams made the city what it is today. One hundred years before Rosa Parks, African American abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond refused to give up her seat while attending a play in Boston. Fiery activists Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall led a boycott against bird plumage in ladies’ dress and brought the fashion industry to its knees. Rachel Wall was the last woman to be hanged in Massachusetts after leading a daring life as a robber and pirate. Later, women like Boston Marathon runner Kathrine Switzer also blazed their own trails. Author Dina Vargo unearths the remarkable stories of the wild women of the Hub.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

147 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 4, 2015

Reviews

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains brief stories about real life women from the Boston area. Some dared to be different and others were "wild" by profession, nature or deed. Some were known to me but most were not. My interest is in the early women during the settlement of Boston through the Gilded Age. The writing is interesting and entertaining for a popular history but I felt that the author occasionally padded the profiles with too much extraneous information. She also sometimes added in what the woman was thinking or feeling at a certain time when there is no way she could know that!

This is an interesting companion to the Boston Women's Heritage Trail and the more traditional narrative of women's history.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool collection of "wild women!" Great detail and well-researched.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went to an author talk at the Old North Church summer 2015 and Dina Vargo's presentation of her book was fun, funny and interesting.
I read it during meal time sitting at my little table looking at the Old north Church steeple and really enjoyed all the stories. I particularly bonded with Annie - a woman who never rode a bike, but when she heard about 2 men and their contest to ride around the world, she found a bike and did it. I also liked the story of the Harriet and Minna who, after learning that their fashionable hats decorated with bird feathers - were not made by feathers of already dead birds - but million of birds were being killed for the feathers. Harriet and Minna took action, got their back bay friends on board and Harriet actually is the person who formed the Audubon Society.





The sons of liberty are celebrated in the rebellious history of Boston--but what of their sisters? An audacious and determined procession of reformers, socialites, criminals and madams made the city what it is today. One hundred years before Rosa Parks, African American abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond refused to give up her seat while attending a play in Boston. Fiery activists Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall led a boycott against bird plumage in ladies' dress and brought the fashion industry to its knees. Rachel Wall was the last woman to be hanged in Massachusetts after leading a daring life as a robber and pirate. Later, women like Boston Marathon runner Kathrine Switzer also blazed their own trails. Author Dina Vargo unearths the remarkable stories of the wild women of the Hub.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are tired of reading/hearing about Boston history just through the lens of what men did, then this book of mini-biographies is a breath of fresh air.

The ladies who started the Mass Audubon Society were amazing. The first woman to officially run he Boston Marathon made me tear up. The woman standing up for black people occupy white spaces 100 years before Rosa Parks kept her bus seat made me want to cheer.

In a city that has never elected a woman as mayor (and has countless other gender bias flaws) to get a whole new stack of [s]heroes is a gift (along with a couple crazy ladies who I do not endorse).

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps biased since I know the author, but I really enjoyed it!

[Rebecca Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heroines and Harridans of a Great City through the Ages

Naturally, when I saw the title, I knew that this was a volume that I simply HAD to read! When I lived in Boston, I explored every part of it that I could; therefore, reading this book in a way was like revisiting it. It is unfortunate that now with the obscene housing costs that only the rare types such as Isabella Stewart Gardner can actually afford to live in Boston and NOT the ones who really made it!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book snack of mostly pre-20th Century Boston. Strange choice to group murderers and madams among the firebrands and progressives, but I suppose it sells books. A gift for the budding feminist you know, the Boston history fan, or lover of little known facts. Compact enough to carry around as an emergency book.

[Donna Hass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jun 2021. Perhaps 'wild women of Boston and other notables' would be a better title. The book has short biographies of courageous and some truly wild women going back in history. A non fiction narrative, I did enjoy it. Quick easy read.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a bunch! Mostly inspired; a little bit disturbed.

[A'Llyn Ettien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun and interesting tidbits of Boston history.

[Sandy Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book for learning about some of the colorful women in Boston's history.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and educational

I enjoyed reading about, and getting to know these consequential tail blazing women. Some of the women up-standing torch bearers, some not so much.

[Barbara Wellnitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first couple didn't seem complete and were disjointed but the rest were very interesting!

[Lew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short interesting vignettes with little depth or exploration into the characters.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly found this book a wonderful change from my usual historical fiction. The women covered by this book were trail blazers of their time and quite ahead of their time. Perhaps not all were role models but thank goodness for their moxie that eventually led to freedom for women.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little book. Short bios of women from the Boston area who did interesting things. Some were criminals, some important firsts. Easy to pop in and out of for a quick story.

[Mala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stands alone! As a long time Boston resident I hadn't found anything quite like it. I highly recommend this read not only for yourself but as a gift. Well written, succinct and a with touch of humor this book an amazing gift for the independent women in your life of all ages.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read this book again...lots of great information that we would not know otherwise

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tales of Boston women, from seventeenth century witches to modern-day marathoners. Some are history; some are trivia. The writing varies from clunky to clever.