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Molly Brown: Unraveling the Myth
by
Kristen Iversen (Goodreads Author),
Muffet Brown
When Margaret Tobin Brown arrived in New York City shortly after her perilous night in Titanic's Lifeboat Six, a legend was born. Through magazines, books, a Broadway musical, and a Hollywood movie, she became "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," but in the process her life story was distorted beyond recognition. Even her name was changed--she was never known as Molly during her...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
August 1st 1999
by Johnson Books
(first published July 1999)
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Next month I'm going to be at a teacher workshop in Denver. The topic is how to use biographies to teach Western History. The workshop is hosted by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Molly Brown House, and our first assignment is to read a biography on Mrs. Brown. Molly Brown: Unraveling the Myth. Kristen Iversen's 1990 volume won the Colorado Book Award for Biography, and a 2010 updated edition was just published. The 304 page paperback is a quick read, and even if you don't know...more
I didn't know very much about Molly Brown before reading this - just a few references to her and of course the James Cameron movie. I knew from somewhere that she was an activist, ahead of her time, and that there was a lot of difference between the legendary "Unsinkable Molly Brown" and the real woman, but that was all I knew.
This book does a lot to contextualize the legendary Molly Brown and contrast that image with the real Margaret Brown. The author makes a few pointed snipes at other histor...more
This book does a lot to contextualize the legendary Molly Brown and contrast that image with the real Margaret Brown. The author makes a few pointed snipes at other histor...more
I didn't love this. I was reading it for a book club. I didn't really have much interest in Molly Brown. I now know more than I ever wanted. I give her credit for writing the "true" story but goodness - how many times are you going to tell me that previous stories were lies, that her son Lawrence was bothered by the lies, etc. The book was incredibly repetitive. I would have enjoyed the story more if it had been about half as long. For example, the introduction tells Molly Brown's entire Titanic...more
In light of the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic I thought I'd read something about someone who was on the ship. Molly Brown is one of the more famous passengers so I picked up this book about her life. I found her to be an interesting personality, especially since everything I knew about her was based on fiction. For instance, her name wasn't even Molly nor did she even have that as a nickname; it was given to her by someone writing a musical based on her life and Molly was an easier n...more
I didn't know much about the outlandish stories of Molly Brown. My first introduction of her was in the movie Titanic. I then heard my mother tell me a little of her tale and the movie The Unsinkable Molly Brown. I bought the book for my mother. Kristen, the author, was able to get the family to trust her, which wasn't easy, and began unraveling the myths told about Molly. One, no one really called her Molly, it just made the musical easier to write. Margaret was a fascinating woman who was just...more
I do know from reading & watching documentaries on Molly Brown that a lot of her "exploits" from the Titanic and also throughout her life were grossly exaggerated but this book really shows how exaggerated many beliefs about her were inaccurate. She was still a very strong minded woman but not as belligerent as the movies make her seem. A really wonderfully written story.
Very disappointing. The book wasted too many words on the myths of Molly Brown. Overall, the book was well written and interesting, but I did not want to read about the untruths, but about her life. Could not finish this book.
(We own the hardcover first edition which doesn't appear on Goodreads for some reason.)
Kirsten Iversen certainly did extensive research for this book. I know because I had a very small part in some of it and learned how meticulous Kirsten is. Which is very important if you want to write an accurate biography. It was a joy getting to know Kirsten while providing her with some information we had in our family scrapbooks, memorabilia, letters, etc. In return, she provided us with unknown informatio...more
Kirsten Iversen certainly did extensive research for this book. I know because I had a very small part in some of it and learned how meticulous Kirsten is. Which is very important if you want to write an accurate biography. It was a joy getting to know Kirsten while providing her with some information we had in our family scrapbooks, memorabilia, letters, etc. In return, she provided us with unknown informatio...more
The true story of this remarkable woman's life and accomplishments are far more interesting than the myths. She is a woman to be admired. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
I loved this book. I didn't want to put this book down and I can't say that about most biographies I've read! The truth is better than the myth of Molly Brown! What an amazing life and what a smart and strong women.
It was great to finally get through all the myths and learn about the REAL Mrs. J.J. Brown. There really is a lot of myths and BS out there. I could have done without learning about the past of all of her "close" friends. It was a little dry in places, and at times, I was thinking "is this going to end?! Come ON!" But it really was a good book if you are really into history.
I haven't finished this book--stalled out, I'm afraid. The writing was excellent-too excellent. I didn't finish this for the same reason that I couldn't watch Titanic...I'm a wimp.
Compared to the real "Molly Brown," the stories they told about her were absolutely ridiculous.
Remarkable woman!
I did not finish this book. I found I was only interested in the portions that dealt with Margaret and the Titanic. That portion was very interesting but I wasn't so interested in the remainder of her life, or her childhood.
Margaret Tobin Brown, the real woman, is a more fascinating and interesting person than the Debbie Reynolds character from the musical Margaret was a strong compasionate woman in an era that wasn't ready for strong woman. She ran for congress 8 years before woman had the right to vote nationally. Margaret was not just a hick that became rich.
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Turns out that the myth is more interesting (and less preachy) than the truth.
The real dirt behind a woman of mythical proportions. I read it cover to cover. I visted her home while on a trip to Denver. Picked up this book at the local book store.
Very interesting life. Totally breaks the myth of "Molly". Loved the book!!!
From the time I first visited the House of Lions in my home state of Colorado, I have been fascinated by the story of Molly Brown. Wonderful true life story.
Apr 24, 2013
Nancy
marked it as to-read
Apr 15, 2013
Wendy
marked it as to-read
Apr 08, 2013
Jennifer
marked it as to-read
Apr 05, 2013
Jordan
marked it as to-read
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Kristen Iversen is the author of Full Body Burden Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats, a finalist for the Barnes & Noble Discover Award and the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, and Molly Brown Unraveling the Myth, winner of the Colorado Book Award and the Barbara Sudler Award for Nonfiction. Full Body Burden was chosen by Kirkus Reviews and the American Library Association as...more
More about Kristen Iversen...
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