The Pankhursts: The History of One Radical Family

by Martin Pugh

The suffragettes outraged Victorian society—yet behind the protests, arrests, and hunger strikes, this comprehensive and compelling biography reveals that the family lives of Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters, the movement's leading lights, were just as dramatic. Martin Pugh's meticulous research makes use of neglected archive material and eye-witness accounts to examine the tense relationships, tortured political disagreements and alliances, and very public victories and defeats that marked the lives of this sometimes dysfunctional, but always exceptional, family. While exposing the inner workings of the suffragette movement, this astonishing account explores the triumphs and tragedies of four extraordinary women who changed the course of women's history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Politics

538 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Martin Pugh is a historian of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Britain, and was formerly professor of modern British history at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. His publications include State and Society and The Pankhursts.

Reviews

[Britta Böhler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rich in detail & learned a lot but Pugh is no storyteller...
2.5*, rounded up.

[Gemma Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this biography of the Pankhurst family very interesting. It goes beyond the suffragette years until the deaths of the sisters and covers their subsequent careers...not especially edifying in most cases as they veer wildly to the right, but Sylvia remains a good comrade, socialist and antifacist to the end. Detailed and critical of the myth that attached to the family name. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in the suffrage movement or political movements more widely.

[Frumenty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book traces the personal and political careers of Emmeline Pankhurst (née Goulden), her husband Richard Pankhurst, and three of their children, the daughters Christabel, Sylvia, and Adela. It is remarkable that such a book wasn't written many decades ago. The struggle and the sacrifice that led to the enfranchisement of women in Britain was over long ago, the injustices of the past are universally acknowledged, and this one family was always in the vanguard. A gift to biographers, one would think. However, one way or another, the Pankhursts have made the task of biography as difficult as possible.

Pugh is at pains to explain the significance of Manchester, the "cockpit of British politics" in the Victorian era: "It was from this exuberant, Radical and self-confident milieu that the Gouldens and the Pankhursts emerged on to the national stage." Emmeline grew up alert to issues of emancipation of slaves, the struggle for national liberation in Ireland and female suffrage. Richard was a lawyer and a political idealist, a dreamer with ideas far in advance of the times who lacked the practical sense necessary to provide financial security for his family or ever to get himself elected. Emmeline and Christabel honed their political and public speaking skills on Richard's failed electoral campaigns.

Mother and daughter made votes for women an issue for the moneyed middle-class, a class that could afford to support political campaigners and to which politicians were most likely to listen. The strategy was deliberate, but it ultimately divided the family because it was incompatible with the socialism to which Sylvia and Adele were drawn as a result of their suffragist work among the poor. Pankhurst militant suffragism was conceived as a para-military movement not unlike those that would later be associated with Fascism, and Emmeline and Christabel were its generals. Suffragette troops had their uniforms, their flags and their marching songs, and they turned out to march or break windows or get themselves arrested when directed to do so. Pankhurst women also had a propensity for treating suffragette funds as personal property. When Adela, the youngest, threatened to join Sylvia in her socialism, she was unceremoniously exiled to Australia where she couldn't cause the older Pankhursts political embarrassment. There was very little personal loyalty among the women in this family.

Their careers as suffragettes ended with the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. Emmeline traded suffragism for patriotism, and worked throughout the war reminding workers of their duty to support the war effort by not striking. Women were granted the vote in 1918, with the exception of those below the age of 30 who remained disenfranchised until 1928. Emmeline became a vociferous moral campaigner and anti-communist. I think it is symptomatic of the crisis of confidence in democratic institutions that characterised the inter-war period that Emmeline and Christabel admired the methods of Mussolini while Sylvia became a communist, even going so far as to slip out of Britain to meet with Lenin. Christabel, a forerunner of late 20th century tele-evangelists, made a lucrative career as a prophet of Seventh Day Adventism, lecturing to packed venues and writing numerous best-selling books. In Australia, Adela married and raised a sizeable family (her husband was a widower with 4 young children) while campaigning alongside him for many causes dear to the Australian left, including anti-conscription (in direct opposition to Emmeline who, in Britain, was a staunch supporter of Billie Hughes). Silvia distinguished herself in later life by her tireless opposition to the Italian invasion of Abyssinia, and her continuing support for Ethiopian social and political causes. She emigrated to Ethiopia and died there a national heroine.

The history of militant suffragism was a very contentious issue amongst former suffragettes, especially the Pankhursts who distorted past events for personal and political motives. While continuing to support themselves by their campaigning, reputations were political capital that must be managed. And Emmeline's daughters had personal issues with her and each other which has muddied the water for biographers.

I have decided to award this 4 stars out of 5. The Pankhursts are not an attractive family, and I think unattractive subjects often make the task of writing a biography that people will read without distaste quite difficult. The task of marshalling the salient facts of not one but 5 lives adds another dimension of difficulty, and Pugh has managed that with great clarity. Altogether a well executed and readable biography of a very important subject.

[Victoria]

I did not know a great deal of specifics about the Pankhurst family prior to reading this book. I had briefly touched upon them during my A Level studies whilst studying the Suffragette movement but in no great detail. This book is a well researched, well written book which does not stray from the subject matter. This makes it eminently readable.
The book focuses on Emmeline, Christabel, Sylvia and Adela Pankhurst. It gives a detailed account of the early Suffragette movement in England and allows the reader great insight into the women who were perhaps the most "name recognisable". You quite often feel that Emmeline and Christabel especially had few sympathetic qualities - but this perhaps makes them more human. Its a little it sad that Emmeline strove so hard to get votes for women and womens rights but ultimately she discarded the women in her life - two of her daughters were essentially disowned.
Overall a well researched, good overview of the Pankhurst family which is accessible to readers of all knowledge levels. We must not forget that whatever their flaws, were it not for the efforts and sacrifices of these women, women today may not enjoy the freedoms they do. The world owes much to the Pankhursts and history has treated them well, if not always kindly.

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, difficult to get into at first, but once you get going you are hooked! Provides great insight on the suffragette movement and the lives of the Pankhurst.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, really easy to read but felt it ended quite quickly. Huge focus (naturally) on the earlier years but later lives of the Pankhurst daughters quite brief.

[Ruth Waterton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long, detailed account of the lives and campaigning works of an extraordinary family, much of this narrative will come as a shock to those inclined to idolise the Pankhurst dynasty. As with many deeply committed campaigners, their private life and personal relationships inevitably suffered. Pugh has done an admirable job cutting through the defences of a family frequently at war with one another and each vigorously defending her conflicting version of the truth. Christabel in particular comes over as an unpleasantly autocratic and self-serving character, fleeing to Paris in order to escape the repeated prison terms and force-feeding endured by her mother and sisters. Adela, the often overlooked youngest sister, was banished to Australia when her socialism threatened the empire building of Christabel and Emmeline, but she found purpose and fulfilment in a way that might have been impossible had she remained in her family's shadow. Sylvia, though undoubtably hellish to live with at times, emerges as the most admirable - or should that be the least unpleasant - of the three sisters, with her strong ideals expressed through Communism, anti-Fascism and, ultimately, self-goverment for Ethiopia where she died a heroine. Her decision to have a baby out of wedlock at the age of 45 was remarkably courageous for a woman in the 1920s, as were her secret, if somewhat deluded, meetings with Lenin. These ladies were not to be trifled with.

As for Emmeline, she is presented as a complicated product of Manchester radicalism combined with a certain sense of entitlement. Clearly charismatic and a superb speaker and political strategist, she could be insensitive to the point of cruelty (only Sylvia seems to have really noticed the only surviving Pankhurst son, who died at 21 partly - it is clearly suggested - as a result of his mother's neglect). For those expecting an uncritical appreciation of the Suffragette cause, this book will be uncomfortable reading. At times the complexity of the political background, makes for heavy going, but this is likely to remain the definitive account of a remarkable family legacy.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed and readable account of the lives of the Pankhursts, and a great introduction to the Women's Movement of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Whatever your political leanings there is probably a Pankhurst for you, although this diversity created an inevitable split within their family, unsurprising in that they were all so outspoken and dedicated to their causes. Some surprising events followed later in their lives - imagine Christabel going round for tea with Mary Pickford when she lived in LA - but essentially this is a record of 4 very strong, single minded and heroic women, to whom the world owes a great debt.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was familiar with the last name, and a few sketchy details but that was about the extent of my knowledge. It was fascinating to see these four women's commitment but also the sacrifice of any semblance of a normal family life or relationships. The final third of the book was, in my opinion, a bit heartbreaking as some of the sisters drastically change their political views and advocate for causes most people today would find offensive. However, the drive and commitment continues and that is somewhat inspiring in itself!

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read, interesting how the media has misreported Emmeline Pankhurst's name! I remember growing up believing it was Emily Pankhurst, never heard of her daughters until I read this book and had no idea that they, also, were big figures in the suffragette movement in their own ways. So many arguments and squabbling between them - makes a great read. Didn't warm to Cristabel at all. Felt very sorry for Adela. My god what a family!

[Highjump · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martin Pugh does an excellent job with this thorough account of four women who (it turns out) lived very different lives. But it only gets three stars because it shattered my illusions about the Pankhursts. They were not great people, and the Americans they inspired to militancy are probably their best legacy. Good thing an ocean separated Alva and Alice from Emmeline and Christabel most of the time. They would not have taken their shit long term.

[Karen Gallant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biographical review of the Pankhursts - a strong, imperfect and determined group of woman who were critical to the rise and success of the suffragette movement in the UK. I learned an enormous amount from reading this book about the movement, their political wits and allegiances, their flaws and their radicalism. Had no idea about the extremes that they went to and how society reacted to that.

[Christine Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to mark down non fiction because I am aware of the hours and hours of research and editing that must be required but I really struggled with this one.
I couldn't warm to any member of the family or their brand of politics. I am left wondering how instrumental they actually were in getting women the vote and how they became so iconic.

[FloJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting but quite hard work. Middle aged brain fade! Taken me ages to finish it.

[Sally Bushnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

found this a real slog to read

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, difficult to get into at first, but once you get going you are hooked! Provides great insight on the suffragette movement and the lives of the Pankhurst.

[Chantel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Found this difficult to read.