Finding Margaret Fuller: A Novel (Unabridged)
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4.2 • 21 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A “sweeping” (Entertainment Weekly) novel of America’s forgotten leading lady, the central figure of a movement that defined a nation—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post
“Soul-stirring . . . brings to life the epic and inspiring story of an incredible woman who should never be forgotten.”—Kristin Harmel, author of The Paris Daughter
In the company of Ralph Waldo Emerson and his circle of enlightened friends, the young, beautiful, and brilliant Margaret Fuller becomes “the radiant genius and fiery heart” of the Transcendentalists. She inspires Louisa May Alcott, sparks Nathaniel Hawthorne to create Hester Prynne, and forms close bonds with Henry David Thoreau and Emerson himself. However, Margaret’s soul yearns for more than poetry and drama, leading her on a journey of adventure and self-discovery.
From hosting a women-only literary salon in Boston to becoming the first woman permitted entry to Harvard’s library, Margaret defies societal conventions as an activist for women’s rights and a champion for humanity. On the gritty New York streets, she spars with Edgar Allan Poe and reports on the work of Frederick Douglass. And when offered an assignment in Europe by editor Horace Greeley, Margaret becomes the first female foreign news correspondent, mingling with the likes of Frédéric Chopin, William Wordsworth, and George Sand. In Rome, she embarks on a passionate love affair with a Roman count, causing an international scandal. As a mother and a countess, Margaret enters a new fight for Italy’s unification.
With a star-studded cast and an epic sweep of historical events, this is a story of an inspiring trailblazer, a woman who loved big and lived even bigger—a fierce adventurer who transcended the rigid roles ascribed to women and changed history for millions, all on her own terms.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In this riveting novel, best-selling author Allison Pataki blends sweeping historical drama with a cast including some of America’s greatest thinkers. In the 1830s, Margaret Fuller, a bright and remarkably well-read woman, develops a reputation as a gifted writer despite Boston society’s narrow expectations of a single woman. She becomes a friend and muse to her mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson, and then becomes part of his social and philosophical circle alongside Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the young Louisa May Alcott. But her literary adventures in America pale compared to what awaits her when she is assigned to cover a burgeoning revolution in Italy. Pataki’s light fictionalization of Fuller’s remarkable life turns these iconic figures into flesh-and-blood people with passionate hearts and minds, and she evokes both the contemplative quiet of rural Massachusetts and the wartime chaos of southern Europe with evocative detail. Barrie Kreinik’s rich, expressive narration is a brilliant match for Pataki’s elegant storytelling. This is a remarkably entertaining story about a truly inspiring woman.
Customer Reviews
Fascinating story!
I had never heard of Margaret Fuller and I was amazed of how much her life influenced the women’s movement. Well told and had me researching her work. Highly recommend.
Good story but pushing feminism!
A great writing style and interesting period in history. The overarching theme of liberal feminism was not necessary but smacked of a modern agenda. I wanted a story not political opinion.