Baroness of Hobcaw: The Life of Belle W. Baruch

by Mary E. Miller

Belle W. Baruch (1899-1964) could outride, outshoot, outhunt, and outsail most of the young men of her elite social circle-abilities that distanced her from other debutantes of 1917. Unapologetic for her athleticism and interests in traditionally masculine pursuits, Baruch towered above male and female counterparts in height and daring. While she is known today for the wildlife conservation and biological research center on the South Carolina coast that bears her family name, Belle's story is a rich narrative about one nonconformist's ties to the land. In Baroness of Hobcaw, Mary E. Miller provides a provocative portrait of this unorthodox woman who gave a gift of monumental importance to the scientific community.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Book Club

244 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2006

Reviews

[Diane Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this after a visit to Hobcaw Barony. Lots of interesting facts and anecdotes, but a bit dry and boring. On the bright side though, the two tour guides we had obviously got most of their information from this book, and did a delightful and entertaining job in presenting it. I recommend a trip if you're anywhere near the Georgetown, SC area. A 16,000 acre nature preserve in the heart of an over developed (Myrtle Beach) stretch, it's proof than multi-millionaires can do wonderful things with their money.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I just finished this book yesterday and I'm still considering it. But I have to say what first struck me as an unnecessarily dry read about an incredibly wet woman, in further reflection seems like more than that. Miller does a great job of not making this a hagiography, even though I think some of the things Belle did are quite incredible for the time she lived. But she also considers as best she can some of Belle's faults from a modern perspective (her ambivalence, at best, to the status of black folks as a whole; her autocratic way of running the Barony animals and lands) with some of her greater feats.
What made me happiest about this book was that Miller didn't let Bernard Baruch (Belles father) and his legacy overshadow Belles. While Bernard is a supporting player (and an important figure in Belles life in several ways) it's always 'mon Colonel's' (a nickname one of her young beneficiaries bestows upon her) story. And the details of that story are wonderful.
From her childhood as the daughter of a towering figure in Bernard, learning to appreciate the land of Hobcaw Barony as she grew up, her incredible run in 20s and 30s Europe in the equestrian show jumping circuit (of which she was initially not allowed to compete thanks to sexism from our very own countries embassy) to spotting German subs off the south Carolina coast in the 40s and learning to pilot her own plane, Belle struck me as a truly unique person. Absolutely privileged but also extremely philanthropic, a woman of means but also a ground breaking human, simply by living her own life as she chose to.
But there lies one of my hiccups with the writer and book. One thing I wanted more of was how Belle was as a romantic partner to her three long term girlfriends. And when I say long term I mean long-goddamned-term. Each relationship seems to have lasted a decade. Her last and final relationship with Ella Severin (15 years!) was, according to Miller, the writers biggest contributor to the book. Knowing that, I feel I detected a hint of squeamishness on the authors part to go into that subject. She never mentions any curiosity on her own part, and it would have been nice if she could have tackled that subject with the same bravery in which Belle lived her own life. I've always found you can learn a lot about a person by the way they experience romantic relationships, and I'm sure Belle was no different.
I'd get into more but I'd need to re read several portions. Also I really think it's worth it to recommend this book more than not, because otherwise I found myself entertained and intrigued by Belles endeavors. And the research Miller did strikes me as incredibly thorough and detailed. She does her best to present an objective but interesting portrait of a strong and private woman. I think more than anything I'm glad a book about this woman exists. She was extraordinary.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for our SC bookclub. It was well researched (a bit dry) but really interesting. Belle was quirky, headstrong, in the mainstream of national politics, an unparalleled equestrian, quietly generous and devoted to the land. Hobcaw is now the primary estuarine research center on the East Coast thanks to her preservation efforts. what an amazing woman!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed Hobcow.

[Annmbray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably enjoyed it because I live so close to the Barony. Was fun to learn about the neighborhood back in the day! Belle was a fascinating human being, extremely complex on every level.

[Margie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book since the Hobcaw plantation is located near me and I hope to visit some day. However, I did not find the main character, Belle Baruch, a compelling character that I wanted to read about. I had heard of her father, Bernard Baruch, and his role in American politics and economics, but she was just a rather spoiled daughter of a rich man. She rode horses and entertained but never struck me as a genuinely nice person. She was a bit condescending to the blacks living in or about the plantation and was not particularly good to her loyal staff. She fired two of them because they displeased her current lover. She did do some philanthropy and good works, but her only redeeming work was leaving her land unspoiled. This beautiful parcel of land near Georgetown, SC is unspoiled by development. I wish more people had done things like this to preserve the natural beauty of the SC shoreline.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing was exceptional. The story really drew me in, partly because I was on vacation just five miles from Hobcaw Barony when I read this. Belle Baruch was a many-faceted woman whose life was both incredible and sad at the same time. Her choices of people to surround herself with, and the moral choices that she made, affected many more people than just herself. But the history of the story and the geography of the book (much of which I knew due to the location), coupled with the excellent writing, made it a great read. And I am thankful for her foresight to put her thousands of acres into a trust that can never be developed, there in the heart of the overdeveloped South Carolina beach countryside.

[Ellen Broadhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. We visited Hobcaw Barony on a recent trip to Myrtle Beach. The research facility is world class and I was interested in the person astute enough to preserve such an extensive piece of property.

Belle Baruch lead a fascinating life and certainly did her share of good in the world. The attitude of the Baruch’s toward blacks living on the property is disconcerting to the modern reader, although in keeping with the attitudes of the time.

The Baroness of Hobcaw is an apparently well researched description of her life and times. While not the sort of scintillating read to keep you up past midnight turning the page, it was a very satisfying read for anyone curious about her life.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the historical aspect of this book but thought it lagged at times.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Granted it's difficult to write about a person who wanted nothing more than privacy, but the book often felt like a list of names of important people she knew and not much about her personality

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book when Dela and I toured Hobcaw Barony during spring break. Belle Baruch was a remarkable woman who loved the South Carolina low-country lands.

[Sue Ugenti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Probably enjoyed it more b/c I live in SC now. Some fun stories about their activities. Liked to hear about her relationship w others.

[Elizabeth Cantrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read after a visit to the plantation

[Gay Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Generalmills]

I was a bit bored by the writing. She was an interesting person but this book didn't capture that very well.

[Glo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read. I loved how the author weaved the history of the times into Belle's life. It helped me not only understand Belle but the beauty of Hobcaw Barony. I can't wIt to visit the property. I feel I will better appreciate my visit and will be able to visualize what it was like all those years ago.

[Susan Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent biography of Belle Baruch, a fascinating character! The book gives a great view of the times in which she lived (1899 - 1964), life in rural South Carolina at Hobcaw Barony, and the life of this very private woman.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this biography. She was incredibly rich and certainly enjoyed her money. She never fit the mold expected of her by society- a truly unique individual. She created a large nature preserve in the Low country on the land she lived on her whole life.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting woman, who like me, decided to live in South Carolina, after living in NYC (Chicago for me). Like me, she loved horses and animals and rode competitively. She was the daughter of Bernard Baruch, who was a financial wiz and advisor to many presidents.

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly interesting book about Belle Baruch. She was quite the dynamo especially for that period of history. It did tend to be quite dry in places but well worth reading.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful glimpse into the political and powerful if South Carolina

[Caroline Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read about the fascinating life of Belle Baruch. I didn't want the book to end.

[Lib Boggs]

Fascinating, particularly for those who know the area, but also due to her very interesting life. Wanted to keep reading at the end of each chapter to hear the history and her part in it.