Seduced by the Light: The Mina Miller Edison Story

by Alexandra Rimer

Seduced by the Light is the first and only biography of Mina Miller Edison, the wife of Thomas Edison, the woman who created and shaped the myth of one of the most seminal figures in America's history. The Thomas Edison we think we know was essentially created by Mina Miller Edison. Exhaustively researched by author Alexandra Rimer, this account draws on unprecedented access to Edison family diaries, memoirs, and letters to look below the surface of the Edison family during the Gilded Age from the little-known perspective of this female protagonist. Following his first wife’s death, Thomas Edison went in search of the next mother to his children and chose a wealthy twenty-year-old socialite from Ohio who was nineteen years his junior. What Mina did not know at the time was that Edison was a terrible father, completely neglecting his children and, ultimately, Mina herself. Absorbed in his work, he only interacted with his family at dinner, and sometimes not even then. The result was a dysfunctional family overseen by a saintly matriarch who went to great lengths to protect Edison’s reputation as well as that of his wayward children.

Genres: History

368 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2023

Reviews

[Anna Mintzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography of Mina Edison, Thomas Edison's wife. It was interesting to read about Mina and her life with Edison but the book was difficult to get through. Lots of details on her family and her siblings as well as Thomas Edison's children from his first marriage and then their 3 children together. She had a difficult life living with him since his work always came first and how self absorbed a man he was. She was very young when she married him and really had no notion of what he was really like. Some of the historical stuff was interesting but the author constantly described how unhappy Mina was with her life with Edison.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy learning about women who have traditionally been relegated to the background. Mina was a product of her time and upbringing (as we are). It was interesting to get more a sense of who Edison was as a person. I had heard that Edison had either ADHD or was on the autism spectrum which could have explained a lot of his behaviors but that possibility was never mentioned her. Also not mentioned but part of his persona was his possible bigotry.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book - the book revealed the real side of Thomas A. Edison. To sum up, he wasn't a good father or husband at all. Not supportive and way too involved in his various inventions. It was fascinating to read about the connection of Mina Miller's family to the Akron area as well as Chautauqua.

[Reuben Ehrlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great topic by an engaging author. Thomas Edison is so lionized, that it's refreshing to read an honest portrayal of the man as seen by the people who should have been the most important in his life.

[Robyn Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

B- Audiobook

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. But kind of a slog. Still glad Mina’s story has been examined.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this audiobook out of my library on a whim. I enjoy learning about women in history, particularly if they are women who played a role in a man's life whose been given more visibility.

I have to admit that I know next to nothing about Edison other than he invented some important technological advances. So it will come as no surprise that I had never even heard of Mina Miller Edison.

I will say going into this book with no preconceived notions had its benefits as it meant I was more objective and frankly the fact that Rimer was also to maintain a level of objectivity as author of this work is commendable. Mina was not served by many of the people in her life and quite frankly there were not a great deal of redeeming qualities for a few of the key players in her life. In many ways when I finished this book, I felt sorry for Mina. It seems she was a woman who was trapped in a marriage that a youthful naivete helped her to make.

Mina Miller Edison was a young woman raised in a religious household. Her parents had hoped that she would marry the son of their long-time friends, but after meeting Thomas Edison and discovering he had an interest in their daughter, Mina's father began to warm to the idea that her life may take a different path. Mina's mother had more sense and objected to the match. Thus began the relationship between Mina and Thomas Edison. I wish I could say that this biography paints the picture of a loving marriage and a happy ending. Rather it details the story of an incredibly dysfunctional family.

Rimer did an incredible amount of research to bring Mina, rather than her more prestigious husband to the front of this story. I also feel that Rimer did an excellent job of showing the complicated nature of all of the people at the heart of Mina's story. The writing helped to give the perspective of all involved in a particular event in a given part of the narrative and due to the interpersonal and psychological complexity of all involved that is an accomplishment of which Rimer should be proud.

I recommend this book if you enjoy learning about historical women. I would give it a 5 out of 5 for research and for writing, but I did walk away feeling saddened by Mina's story as I felt she never escaped the shadow of her marriage, which in many ways felt like she regretted at times and that is the reason I gave the book a 4 overall.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Pregnancy