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The Peabody Sisters of Salem
The Peabody Sisters of Salem is a classic biography illuminating one of the most fascinating periods of American history: the intellectual "flowering" of New England, the golden age of such figures as Hawthorne, Thoreau, Channing, Emerson, Mann and Melville. "Louise Hall Tharp." writes Louis Auchincloss in his introduction to this edition "limns this era of seething intellects in the vision of three sisters, each unlike the other two. The result is a brilliant assessment of the role of women in that time and place." The Peabody sisters were at the hub of this whirlwind. All three taught school, a commitment reflected at all stages of their lives. Elizabeth Peabody, the oldest, is known as the founder of kindergarten in the United States. She worked as Channing's secretary for several years, unpaid and unacknowledged, and published the Dial, which Emerson edited. She ran the famous bookshop on Boston's West Street, where Hawthorne, Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Alcott and others gathered to discuss issues and literature of the time. Her enthusiasm and vigor were so memorable Henry James used her as his model for Miss Birdseye in the Bostonians. Like her sister Elizabeth, Mary was a teacher and naturally attracted to that great man of education, Horace Mann. But while it was Elizabeth whose long intimate conversations with Mann often resulted in her combing his hair, it was Mary who married him and went west with him to help found Antioch College. Their poignant love story is told with the sensitivity and humor that mark all of the sisters. None of the sisters was more sensitive or more creatively talented than Sophia, whose frailty was marked by a series of ailments. As a painter, her primary activity was the scrupulously detailed reproduction of other painters' works. But she was an intellectual and spiritual match for her husband, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and she supported him through the days of poverty and denigration as well as the times of genius and acclaim.
372 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1950
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 31, 2020
Although it's been decades since I read this biography, I remember how impressed I was with these 3 sisters and what the accomplished in 19th century America.
April 23, 2022
Crammed with info about an amazing American family. Not a definitive biography as there wasn’t much criticism nor proper historical analysis of the Peabody sisters legacy, but my, it did examine the characters of three intelligent, articulate, hard working and influential women of the 19th century linked to some of the most renowned men of the time by marriage or collaboration. Makes me want to read more about the Peabody sisters.
September 10, 2021
I have my mom to thank for recommending this book. It wasn’t an easy read, but I’m glad I read it and learned about the extraordinary Peabody sisters and the parts they played in American history. They were ahead of their time in the belief that nothing is more important than education for ALL and that education is key to creating a world where there is no oppression.
November 19, 2015
The Peabody Sisters of Salem by Louisa Hall Tharp was a 1950s book I picked up after reading Erika Robuck's House of Hawthorne last year.
The Peabody sisters included Sophia, who married Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mary who married Horace Mann, and Elizabeth who brought kindergarten to America. The women had great intellect and drive, and allied themselves with some of the movers and shakers of their time. They hobnobbed with all the Transcendentalists--Alcott, Emerson, Thoreau.
All three sisters worked in education at some time, with Elizabeth involved with Alcott's school before starting her own. Mary made herself a pillar for the work of Horace Mann until he gave up and married her. Artistic Sophia was subject to migraines until her marriage to Hawthorne. Mary and Sophia both idolized their husbands, totally supporting their work. Elizabeth was also the first women publisher in America, and quite formidable in her work for her pet causes.
Tharp's writing shows great scholarship and knowledge. Yet the book is highly readable and sometimes funny as Tharp is not above witty jabs at the sister's expense. We are left with an impressive view of these women in all their glory and foibles.
The Peabody sisters included Sophia, who married Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mary who married Horace Mann, and Elizabeth who brought kindergarten to America. The women had great intellect and drive, and allied themselves with some of the movers and shakers of their time. They hobnobbed with all the Transcendentalists--Alcott, Emerson, Thoreau.
All three sisters worked in education at some time, with Elizabeth involved with Alcott's school before starting her own. Mary made herself a pillar for the work of Horace Mann until he gave up and married her. Artistic Sophia was subject to migraines until her marriage to Hawthorne. Mary and Sophia both idolized their husbands, totally supporting their work. Elizabeth was also the first women publisher in America, and quite formidable in her work for her pet causes.
Tharp's writing shows great scholarship and knowledge. Yet the book is highly readable and sometimes funny as Tharp is not above witty jabs at the sister's expense. We are left with an impressive view of these women in all their glory and foibles.
July 15, 2014
Written in the 1950s about events from 1830 to 1890. Based on facts. Mostly from old letters made by the Peabody sisters during that period. Well it was fascinating , to read about all the people those sisters lives were involved in over those years. It is a small world today but goodness how much smaller it was 180 years ago. I had put off reading this book for many years as I thought it was about witchcraft in Salem. Well, what a surprise it was to find it to be about all the people of those days so long ago. This is not a fun book to read on vacation but an interesting one to read in the evening. The sisters knew everyone who was anyone or to become someone. meaning artist types. So watch out, that neighbor you pass off as crazy may end up being the next Andy Warhol. Andy might not be the best example to use, would Emerson be better but would your grandchildren know who we were talking about anyway??
November 9, 2019
I read this for my presentation on Elizabeth Palmer Peabody [for presentation at UU Fellowship of Plattsburgh]. At first I thought it was just your stereotypical old-fashioned biography, and not likely to be as good or insightful as more modern approaches. In fact, I found Mrs. Tharp's interpretation of E.P.P. to be more credible, and more fully developed than the more modern scholar. I developed a great admiration for E.P.P. and for her sister Mary, and consider that she deserves more recognition as an educator and educational reformer.
September 22, 2010
I found myself comparing the Peabodys (Unitarians in Massachusetts) to Lucrecia Mott (Quaker in Nantucket). There is mention of Mary (Peabody) Mann meeting Lucrecia Mott. The dynamics of the relationship of sisters is interesting and familiar. It is difficult to write a biography of three people at once, along with all of their intimate friends who became famous. Interesting and difficult times to live in, but exciting.
September 12, 2013
This book really caught my interest when I read it. Sophia Peabody married Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mary Peabody married Horace Mann, and Elizabeth Peabody opened the first English language kindergarten in the U.S. I went on to read several other Tharp biographies and enjoyed them all.
September 22, 2015
This book, written in the 1050s, is much better than the recently published fictional book about Sophia Peabody. The three sisters, Elizabeth, Mary and Sophia, knew most of the existentialists, authors and educators of New England before, during and after the Civil War.
August 17, 2022
Born during the intellectual blossoming of New England in the middle of the nineteenth century, the three Peabody sisters' lives intersected with the lives of numerous well known figures including prominent writers and teachers. All were teachers to supplement their dentist father's paltry income. The oldest sister, Elizabeth, is known as the founder of public kindergarten in the United States, published the Dial that was edited by Emerson, and taught with Bronson Alcott who is of course the father of Louisa May Alcott. Mary fell deeply in love with a well known figure in education, Horace Mann, and travelled with him out west to found Antioch College. Finally, their frail and artistic sister Sophia defied her family's belief that her health would prevent her marrying. She fell in love with married Nathaniel Hawthorne and supported him through his career to become one of the best known authors of his time.
This was a really enjoyable biography about three sisters who found themselves at the center of an intellectual awakening. Although in many ways I liked and enjoyed reading more about Mary and Sophia, Elizabeth was by far the most accomplished and intellectual of the sister. It was the oldest and only unmarried sister Elizabeth who seems to have seen herself as the spokesperson and champion of her sisters and was always arranging teaching positions and similar situations for them. Mysteriously, Elizabeth did have a serious suitor as a younger woman. The author alludes that her suitor ends up killing himself, although this was never explicitly stated: "Poor L.B. found his way, in such a horrid way, out of this world" (35). The other two sisters married quite late in life but still managed to have three children each. While the married sister's lives thus became consumed with their husband's pursuits and raising their children, Elizabeth remained devoted to intellectual pursuits and supporting herself and their parents. In addition to founding kindergartens, she has also been called "the first woman lecturer in the United States" (93) and for many years ran a bookshop where intellectual debates and conversations were routinely hosted. One interesting detail about her is that Bronson Alcott named one his daughters Elizabeth after her, in recognition of her devotion to their school (and his lack of payment to her). This daughter would go on to be the fictionalized Beth of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.
Although very different men and very different marriages, both Mary and Sofia had true love matches. Sofia and her husband Nathaniel Hawthorne lived with very little for much of their marriage, only with visits from their friend and author Herman Melville to break up the long winters. Their love story, of the reclusive and handsome writer who falls for the physically frail Sofia was touching, particularly since it had a happy ending. Similarly, despite the many years of unrequited love Mary had for Horace Mann, it was gratifying to see them finally married. The sisters all drifted apart with time, as each found their own path and their own convictions. Differences about slavery seems to have particularly come between them.
I do wish more had shared about their families. Perhaps most striking, the author shares almost no details about how Horace Mann became such a prominent named in education, leading to his recommendation for various positions. This lack of context when I have never read anything about his life before was a bit disconcerting. Additionally, almost no details about their three younger brothers was shared other than cursory notes about their existence and early deaths. Relatively little was shared about their parents as well, other than the woeful state of their finances because of their father's possessions and his tender care of his grandchildren later in life. Similarly, it would have been interesting to have included a brief summary of the six children of the next generation and their lives, but no real detail was included. However, overall a fascinating book about three women whose lives were constantly intersecting with famous names and historical events.
This was a really enjoyable biography about three sisters who found themselves at the center of an intellectual awakening. Although in many ways I liked and enjoyed reading more about Mary and Sophia, Elizabeth was by far the most accomplished and intellectual of the sister. It was the oldest and only unmarried sister Elizabeth who seems to have seen herself as the spokesperson and champion of her sisters and was always arranging teaching positions and similar situations for them. Mysteriously, Elizabeth did have a serious suitor as a younger woman. The author alludes that her suitor ends up killing himself, although this was never explicitly stated: "Poor L.B. found his way, in such a horrid way, out of this world" (35). The other two sisters married quite late in life but still managed to have three children each. While the married sister's lives thus became consumed with their husband's pursuits and raising their children, Elizabeth remained devoted to intellectual pursuits and supporting herself and their parents. In addition to founding kindergartens, she has also been called "the first woman lecturer in the United States" (93) and for many years ran a bookshop where intellectual debates and conversations were routinely hosted. One interesting detail about her is that Bronson Alcott named one his daughters Elizabeth after her, in recognition of her devotion to their school (and his lack of payment to her). This daughter would go on to be the fictionalized Beth of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.
Although very different men and very different marriages, both Mary and Sofia had true love matches. Sofia and her husband Nathaniel Hawthorne lived with very little for much of their marriage, only with visits from their friend and author Herman Melville to break up the long winters. Their love story, of the reclusive and handsome writer who falls for the physically frail Sofia was touching, particularly since it had a happy ending. Similarly, despite the many years of unrequited love Mary had for Horace Mann, it was gratifying to see them finally married. The sisters all drifted apart with time, as each found their own path and their own convictions. Differences about slavery seems to have particularly come between them.
I do wish more had shared about their families. Perhaps most striking, the author shares almost no details about how Horace Mann became such a prominent named in education, leading to his recommendation for various positions. This lack of context when I have never read anything about his life before was a bit disconcerting. Additionally, almost no details about their three younger brothers was shared other than cursory notes about their existence and early deaths. Relatively little was shared about their parents as well, other than the woeful state of their finances because of their father's possessions and his tender care of his grandchildren later in life. Similarly, it would have been interesting to have included a brief summary of the six children of the next generation and their lives, but no real detail was included. However, overall a fascinating book about three women whose lives were constantly intersecting with famous names and historical events.
January 23, 2022
Slow, stately biography of three sisters from 1800s-era Massachusetts. The eldest, Elizabeth Peabody, was a well-regarded educator; the middle sister, Mary Peabody, was a teacher and author who became the wif...[see the rest on my book review site.]
December 29, 2020
clues from bookmarks found in this book indicate first reading in 2003
Want to read
April 14, 2008I have no idea where this book came from, but it appears to be a First Edition. It's not in very good shape though, and it's an author nobody ever heard of... I doubt I will ever read it. I wish we didn't have to choose among read, to-read, and currently-reading. Some books I just own and collect with no intention of reading!
April 7, 2008
It's a "clean" read in that it presents the sisters and their circle in a highly positive light. However it is an interesting read covering a unique perspective and period.
Finally finished. This is a very dry read, though it still manages to invoke an interesting time in history.
Finally finished. This is a very dry read, though it still manages to invoke an interesting time in history.
June 15, 2023
The lives of the three sisters are nicely balanced. The period leading up to the Civil War and beyond was an interesting one for women.
Paperback version was not the best idea as the tight binding made it difficult to read.
Paperback version was not the best idea as the tight binding made it difficult to read.
April 25, 2008
Written more like a dissertation than a novel; author repeats same or similar information too many times. Could have been half the number of pages!
June 11, 2010
Cheerful period piece written by "Mrs. Tharp" in the '50's. Far less research than the Marshall bk, but lots more vinegar.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews