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Lady Editor: Sarah Josepha Hale and the Making of the Modern American Woman
For half a century Sarah Josepha Hale was the most influential woman in America. As editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, Hale was the leading cultural arbiter for the growing nation. Women (and many men) turned to her for advice on what to read, what to cook, how to behave, and—most important—what to think. Twenty years before the declaration of women’s rights in Seneca Falls, NY, Sarah Josepha Hale used her powerful pen to promote women’s right to an education, to work, and to manage their own money.There is hardly an aspect of nineteenth-century culture in which Hale did not figure prominently as a pathbreaker. She was one of the first editors to promote American authors writing on American themes. Her stamp of approval advanced the reputations of Edgar Allan Poe, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. She wrote the first antislavery novel, compiled the first women’s history book, and penned the most recognizable verse in the English language, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”Americans’ favorite holiday—Thanksgiving—wouldn’t exist without Hale. Re-imagining the New England festival as a patriotic national holiday, she conducted a decades-long campaign to make it happen. Abraham Lincoln took up her suggestion in 1863 and proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving.Most of the women’s equity issues that Hale championed have been achieved, or nearly so. But women’s roles in the “domestic sphere” are arguably less valued today than in Hale’s era. Her beliefs about women’s obligations to family, moral leadership, and principal role in raising children continue to have relevance at a time when many American women think feminism has failed them. We could benefit from re-examining her arguments to honor women’s special roles and responsibilities.Lady Editor re-creates the life of a major nineteenth-century woman, whose career as a writer, editor, and early feminist encompassed ideas central to American history.
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Published August 3, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 27, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! How this woman has been forgotten all these year boggles the mind. All the things she accomplished and advocated for are astounding. Women today have much to thank her for and I am adding this book as one of my top biographies to recommend!
February 6, 2023
I'd heard of her and Godey's Ladies Book but never realized how influential she was to generations of American women, focusing not only on culture and domestic work but also promoting women's education. Her story is one of bravery as she took many risks. Her tenacity enabled her to succeed in numerous ways she likely didn't fully comprehend. No doubt her publication was read by many she never expected, broadening her impact.
March 26, 2022
A fascinating look into the life of Sarah Joseph's Hale. She was a rule breaker and a risk taker. And a early champion of women's voting rights.She created and initiated the Thanksgiving holiday and in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the first Thanksgiving! And she also worked as an editor for Godey's Ladies Book ( which was a fascinating work in itself). Many people looked upon her for advice- on how to behave, what to read and most importantly what to think. I loved reading this biography of Sarah Joseph Hale and it's an outstanding piece of work. Highly recommend it!
April 2, 2022
Melanie Kirkpatrick recognizes an important woman in Lady Editor: A Biography of Sarah Josepha Hale and the Making of the Modern American Woman. With that imposing title, readers will expect to learn about a woman who made significant contributions to history. They will find their expectations fulfilled in learning about Sarah Josepha Hale.
Kirkpatrick, writer and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., is well suited to write Hale’s biography. She has traveled the world and lived in Toronto, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Manhattan.
Who was Sarah Josepha Hale and why should we read about her? Hale’s influence stems from her work as editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book. She became an advocate for women twenty years before the declaration of women’s rights in Seneca Falls, NY. From the platform of Godey’s Lady’s Book, Hale provided advice to women and often men as well on how to conduct their lives. This influence continued for more than fifty years.
Hale promoted the idea that women should be in charge of their own lives and their own money, radical ideas for the time when women were supposed to be cared for by their fathers until they married and then their husbands took over.
Elaine Chao, former Secretary of Transportation and Labor, explains that “Sarah Josepha Hale’s belief in the potential of women transformed the world of opportunities for women today.” Kirkpatrick’s biography of Hale should be required reading so that more people learn about the influence Hale exerted.
Not only did Hale promote women’s rights, she also promoted American ideals and ideas through Godey’s Lady’s Book. When she endorsed writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, those authors found new audiences. Her accomplishments also include writing the first antislavery novel, compiling the first women’s history book, and writing “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Kirkpatrick explains that without Hale’s endorsement and promotion, Thanksgiving as we Americans know it today would not even exist. Hale campaigned for years to make Thanksgiving a holiday. No less than Abraham Lincoln took up her cause and proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving celebration.
Hale’s rise to such heights came following the unexpected death of her young husband. He developed pneumonia and died suddenly, leaving Hale a widow with four children and expecting a fifth. She thought about and considered a number of options, most of which would yield her little money to support her family. She knew she could write, but what woman made a living writing in 1822? Hale decided that she would forge a career and a livelihood out of writing.
Kirkpatrick has written a very readable biography about an important woman in American history. Kirkpatrick also provides extensive notes in the back of the book so that readers know where she found her material. Book clubs would do well to read this biography and learn more about an amazing American woman. Many discussion topics come immediately to mind: careers for women, women’s rights, American writers, American themes, and injustices in American history.
Kirkpatrick, writer and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., is well suited to write Hale’s biography. She has traveled the world and lived in Toronto, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Manhattan.
Who was Sarah Josepha Hale and why should we read about her? Hale’s influence stems from her work as editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book. She became an advocate for women twenty years before the declaration of women’s rights in Seneca Falls, NY. From the platform of Godey’s Lady’s Book, Hale provided advice to women and often men as well on how to conduct their lives. This influence continued for more than fifty years.
Hale promoted the idea that women should be in charge of their own lives and their own money, radical ideas for the time when women were supposed to be cared for by their fathers until they married and then their husbands took over.
Elaine Chao, former Secretary of Transportation and Labor, explains that “Sarah Josepha Hale’s belief in the potential of women transformed the world of opportunities for women today.” Kirkpatrick’s biography of Hale should be required reading so that more people learn about the influence Hale exerted.
Not only did Hale promote women’s rights, she also promoted American ideals and ideas through Godey’s Lady’s Book. When she endorsed writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, those authors found new audiences. Her accomplishments also include writing the first antislavery novel, compiling the first women’s history book, and writing “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Kirkpatrick explains that without Hale’s endorsement and promotion, Thanksgiving as we Americans know it today would not even exist. Hale campaigned for years to make Thanksgiving a holiday. No less than Abraham Lincoln took up her cause and proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving celebration.
Hale’s rise to such heights came following the unexpected death of her young husband. He developed pneumonia and died suddenly, leaving Hale a widow with four children and expecting a fifth. She thought about and considered a number of options, most of which would yield her little money to support her family. She knew she could write, but what woman made a living writing in 1822? Hale decided that she would forge a career and a livelihood out of writing.
Kirkpatrick has written a very readable biography about an important woman in American history. Kirkpatrick also provides extensive notes in the back of the book so that readers know where she found her material. Book clubs would do well to read this biography and learn more about an amazing American woman. Many discussion topics come immediately to mind: careers for women, women’s rights, American writers, American themes, and injustices in American history.
June 22, 2022
This woman and her story fascinates me and I am so grateful for a well-written biography. Yes, it was a wee bit dry in a few places, but there is a timeline that needed to be understood. I wish more people knew of Sarah Hale and her contributions to our culture and society. Here are a few tidbits I want to remember...
"For the Buells in post-Revolution Newport, the valuable old-growth pine forest on the family farm was a potent symbol of American independence. Under the terms of the Newport town charter, granted by King George III, the original owners of the pine trees had been required to preserve the trees for the use of the Royal Navy, which commandeered them for masts for its ships. After the war, the property rights reverted to the owners of the forest. The Buells, not some faraway king, could now decide what to do with their pine trees."
"In her autobiographical profile, Sarah, without elaborating, describes her mother as having 'enjoyed uncommon advantages of education.' Martha possessed 'a mind clear as rock-water, and a most happy talent of communicating knowledge.' According to her daughter, Martha excelled, too, as a teacher, amusing and instructing her children at the same time. 'She always contrived to teach us some serious truth, while she charmed us.'"
"The sexes are intended for different spheres and constructed in conformity to their respective destinations by Him, but disparity does not imply inferiority."
"Women, she believed, had the intellectual capacity to carry out almost any task. She had little patience for men who believed women were intellectually or emotionally incapable of certain kinds of work. 'Give women some pursuit which men esteem important, and see if their work is not well done, provided they are suitably trained,' she wrote."
"For the Buells in post-Revolution Newport, the valuable old-growth pine forest on the family farm was a potent symbol of American independence. Under the terms of the Newport town charter, granted by King George III, the original owners of the pine trees had been required to preserve the trees for the use of the Royal Navy, which commandeered them for masts for its ships. After the war, the property rights reverted to the owners of the forest. The Buells, not some faraway king, could now decide what to do with their pine trees."
"In her autobiographical profile, Sarah, without elaborating, describes her mother as having 'enjoyed uncommon advantages of education.' Martha possessed 'a mind clear as rock-water, and a most happy talent of communicating knowledge.' According to her daughter, Martha excelled, too, as a teacher, amusing and instructing her children at the same time. 'She always contrived to teach us some serious truth, while she charmed us.'"
"The sexes are intended for different spheres and constructed in conformity to their respective destinations by Him, but disparity does not imply inferiority."
"Women, she believed, had the intellectual capacity to carry out almost any task. She had little patience for men who believed women were intellectually or emotionally incapable of certain kinds of work. 'Give women some pursuit which men esteem important, and see if their work is not well done, provided they are suitably trained,' she wrote."
May 3, 2022
I may be guilty of rating this book so high solely based on the amaziness that was Sarah Josepha Hale. It is truly incredible what she accomplished in her life and how hard she worked. I was ashamed at how little I have done with my time when compared to her, especially considering that she lived in the 1800's when opportunity was scarce. Here is a small list of things that she was actively involved in accomplishing: getting Thanksgiving declared a national holiday, a strong push for women's education especially at a college level, charitable aid, wrote a ton of poems, essays, and a couple of books along with Mary Had a Little Lamb, provided guidance in the formation of Vassar College, and so much more. While I don't agree with all of her positions she really was ahead of the times in so many ways.
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March 8, 2022LADY EDITOR is not just a valuable biography of Sarah Hale; it is also a history of a growing new nation where men and women both had to carve out their places in society. It will be educational for many of us, who are not historians or women’s studies professors, to see how life has changed and how one woman navigated the reluctance and reality of the world around her.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2022/03/02/meet-...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2022/03/02/meet-...
April 6, 2022
Author Melanie Kirkpatrick brings to light another blight on our historical educational system and it’s lack of strong, influential women in history. About the book…I found Sarah Hale to have a great deal of contradiction within herself of radical, of conservative, and of (during her lifetime) morally acceptable ideas for women. I think this would be an excellent read for any group of people (college, book club, coworkers) who love discussing woman’s history. There are so very many contentious topics within this book that are just aching to be analyzed.
May 24, 2022
What a life! Sarah was a great example of a professional woman as shown by one criteria I value-her children and grand children seemed to like her. Sarah established 2 broad goals for her direction and decisions and stuck by them. Sarah used critical thinking to further her ends with an approach to long term goals that would have matched any industrial CEO. Then, to appreciate her whimsy and teaching skills , just sing Mary Had a Little Lamb. Well written book!
July 11, 2022
Daytona Beach Shores Book Club Member Nancy reviewed Lady Editor: Sarah Josepha Hale and the Making of the Modern American Woman by Melanie Kirkpatrick a biography about Sarah Josepha Hale. “Interesting but I felt long and repetitive. (She) fought for women’s rights, especially education, but not suffrage or any political ideas or equal pay. Main fight, relentlessly (was for the) Thanksgiving holiday.”#BookTribBookClub #BookTribBC
December 30, 2022
Aside from a few moments when the editorial commentary of the author (authoress?) intruded into the text, this book was a delight. I'm so happy that my husband gifted it to me for Christmas 2021. Sarah Josepha Hale is worth remembering. Hopefully, this work will enable more Americans to do just that.
November 5, 2021
Really terrific book about an unsung hero of women's rights (although she was not in favor of women voting.....people are complicated). Highly recommend this to anyone interested in US history.
March 6, 2023
interesting
November 17, 2021
Sarah Josepha Hale was a fascinating lady. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about her life, goals and accomplishments. "Mary Had a Little Lamb" is one of many many writing pieces she did. Melanie Kirkpatrick writes wonderfully about Sarah with a very enjoyable way of presenting her history. Many libraries in Merrimack, Sullivan and even Grafton Counties in NH should own this book out of respect and support for a lady ahead of her times.
Wow!
Wow!
December 23, 2022
Another interesting book about women who paved the way for equality and get no recognition. Somewhat repetitive since I had already read the Thanksgiving bit in her other book. But a concise and easily readable biography that recognized the seeming contradictions in Hale's life and writing.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews