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Born to Rebel: The Life of Harriet Boyd Hawes
Harriet Boyd was the first woman to lead an archaeological excavation in the Aegean. At a time when few women traveled on their own, she discovered, excavated and published an account of the Minoan town of Gournia in Crete. She was the first woman to lecture to the Archaeological Instituite of America - ten times in fourteen days in January 1902. While prominent as a lecturer and teacher, archaeology was only a part of her life: in 1897 she was nursing with the Red Cross in the Greco-Turkish war, in 1915 she was nursing Serbian typhoid victims on Corfu, and by 1917 she was in Northern France setting up a rehabilitation center within sound of the front. While the past and its arts were her profession, the present and the future were her passionate interest - whether local social problems in her home town of Boston or international affairs which took her to lunch with Mrs Roosevelt at the White House. Mary Allsebrook's lighthearted and extremely readable account of her mother's extraordinary experiences shows Harriet Boyd to be truly one of America's pioneers.
- GenresNonfiction
236 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 21, 2025
Ok so I got this book by mistake. I was looking for the biography of Jacquetta Hawkes, archaeologist specialised in the Minoan period, who made ground breaking discoveries in Crete, and feminist icon. I instead got the biography of Harriet Hawes, archaeologist specialised in the Minoan period, who made ground breaking discoveries in Crete, and feminist icon. You see the confusion.
Nevertheless, a rather interesting biography of a female archaeologist of the early 20th century who could have given much more to the academic world, if it wasn’t for the fact that – horror of the horrors - she was a woman.
Beside archaeology, her life was quite intense, volunteering as a nurse during the many wars of the Balkans, then setting up a number of relief association during the world war etc.
Interesting content, but the style of the author, the daughter, I did not appreciate that much. I would have expected a slighter drier style, possibly with more sources and transcription of letters and notes of Herriet. Even a part on the legacy of her theories.
Still, interesting read to know more of an archaeologist and philanthropist that gave a lot, and could have given more, were society of the first half of the 20th century not so sexist.
Nevertheless, a rather interesting biography of a female archaeologist of the early 20th century who could have given much more to the academic world, if it wasn’t for the fact that – horror of the horrors - she was a woman.
Beside archaeology, her life was quite intense, volunteering as a nurse during the many wars of the Balkans, then setting up a number of relief association during the world war etc.
Interesting content, but the style of the author, the daughter, I did not appreciate that much. I would have expected a slighter drier style, possibly with more sources and transcription of letters and notes of Herriet. Even a part on the legacy of her theories.
Still, interesting read to know more of an archaeologist and philanthropist that gave a lot, and could have given more, were society of the first half of the 20th century not so sexist.
March 8, 2015
I love this book. Almost every page is earmarked thanks to thought-provoking quotes, and I'll be essentially re-reading the entire book to document all of the worthy quotes therein.
4.5 stars; and the -.5 only because, while Allsebrook's writing is often beautiful and seamless, there are times - especially at the very beginning and at the end in the Epilogue - when I spent three pages trying to hunt down the target of an ultimately inscrutable pronoun or felt like an interpretation suffered from the extreme subjectivity of what was obviously a strained mother-daughter relationship.
When I was 17 years old and I first encountered the writing of Henry Rollins, I felt an immense sense of relief. I didn't agree with everything he said, and it didn't matter, because here was someone living their life with clear-sightedness, passion and action. I feel the same about Harriet Boyd Hawes.
4.5 stars; and the -.5 only because, while Allsebrook's writing is often beautiful and seamless, there are times - especially at the very beginning and at the end in the Epilogue - when I spent three pages trying to hunt down the target of an ultimately inscrutable pronoun or felt like an interpretation suffered from the extreme subjectivity of what was obviously a strained mother-daughter relationship.
When I was 17 years old and I first encountered the writing of Henry Rollins, I felt an immense sense of relief. I didn't agree with everything he said, and it didn't matter, because here was someone living their life with clear-sightedness, passion and action. I feel the same about Harriet Boyd Hawes.
Want to read
October 26, 2009I will have to restart this one sometime in the future. It is somewhat hard to read, but I really want to finish it someday..... it is just cluttering up my queue now :)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews