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440th out of 556 books
—
53 voters
The Great Divorce: a Nineteenth-Century Mother's Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times
by
Ilyon Woo
Ilyon Woo’s The Great Divorce is the dramatic, richly textured story of one of nineteenth-century America’s most infamous divorce cases, in which a young mother single-handedly challenged her country’s notions of women’s rights, family, and marriage itself.
In 1814, Eunice Chapman came home to discover that her three children had been carried off by her estranged husband. H...more
In 1814, Eunice Chapman came home to discover that her three children had been carried off by her estranged husband. H...more
Hardcover, 416 pages
Published
August 10th 2010
by Atlantic Monthly Press
(first published August 1st 2010)
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In the early 1800's, Eunice Chapman was just like any other woman - property of her husband, dependent on him for support and access to her children. On the day she returned home and found her husband had taken their three children and gone to live with a religious group known as the Shakers, she decided to fight back.
Over 5 years Eunice petitioned legislators (at the time the only way a woman could get a divorce was to prove adultery or have it passed into law), wrote books and harassed the Sha...more
Over 5 years Eunice petitioned legislators (at the time the only way a woman could get a divorce was to prove adultery or have it passed into law), wrote books and harassed the Sha...more
I read this book in less than 3 days, hating to put it down for everyday chores. Part of my interest stems from continuing interest in the Shakers, part from the fact that much of what happened in this nonfiction story occurred within miles of where I grew up and where I live now (latter is about 5 minutes by car from the former Watervliet Shaker community location), and part stems from the fact that this is the story of a strong woman/mother who just couldn't/wouldn't give up on getting her chi...more
Fascinating and well-written story. The book presents the true story of Eunice Chapman’s struggle to regain custody of her children, who were taken by their father to live with the Shakers. The book explains the history of the Shakers; and the incredible way that Eunice manipulated public sympathies, and the politics of the day, to regain her children. It is also a fascinating look at the abysmal rights of women in the early 19th century.
Ilyon Woo uncovers and intriguing story that begins a revolution in divorce and custody laws in New York State and across America. Set during the 1810s in upstate New York, the story details the life of Eunice Chapman, a bright and forceful woman who refuses to stay within her assigned gender role and fights for her children after her estranged husband takes them to live with him in a Shaker community near Albany.
Mrs. Chapman employed several methods to spread the word about the injustices she e...more
Mrs. Chapman employed several methods to spread the word about the injustices she e...more
While I really enjoyed learning about the Shakers and while it was really interesting to understand what Eunice Chapman endured while both divorcing her husband and trying to regain custody of her children from the Shaker community, the book sometimes went into "novel" mode which made it entirely too long. Just when you think you are getting close to some important detail, we endure reading about the deep snow, or riding in a buggy along a riverbank in much detail, which to me didn't really add...more
This was a very interesting and well-written book about a landmark early 19th century custody dispute between a mother, her husband, and the Shakers. Apparently in the early 1800s the Shakers allowed people (mostly men) to enter their communities with their children even if the other spouse was opposed, and they often hid the children or refused to release them. Men had the right to the kids, to determine the abode, to control the money and to order the wife to comply. In NY, there was almost no...more
Surprisingly easy and sort of juicy reading (once you get past the first chapter and sink in). Woo explains the politics and religion of the time on a need-to-know basis, which makes understanding the context of the times easier. There are some suggestions of salaciousness at the beginning, but the speculation is rarely brought up later in the book or dwelt upon with any depth; the author stick firmly with fact. All the legislative maneuvers and letter-writing smack-downs and threatened mobs sho...more
A compelling true story that shows me what Susan B. and her friends worked so hard to eradicate. This one woman brought the powers of heaven and earth to bear to get her children back in an era when woman didn't even have the right to her own body, much less her children. I have always admired the Shakers, but this book showed a dark side of them that I had never considered. Also gave a snapshot of Mother Lee, who founded the Shakers in the face of heartbreaking hardships. Not an easy read becau...more
This is an amazing book -- factual but read like a novel -- about an amazing woman, Eunice Hawley Chapman (born 1778). Her husband John joined the Shakers and took their three children with them. Eunice fought in the New York legislature and, literally, in the streets to gain custody of her children. As the book illustrates, American women in 1700s/1800s became "civily dead" when they married. They had no rights to property and no right to custody of their children. And this book shows the dark...more
I enjoyed this book, especially learning about the beginnings of New York's seemingly forever dysfunctional legislature. At times I found the unending details a bit much and really just wanted to know how this remarkable woman accomplished the unthinkable during that time period. I found the epilogue almost more interesting than the rest of the book and would have enjoyed to learn more about the family post-Shaker (assuming those details could be found). Overall, an enjoyable read about a fascin...more
This absolutely incredible book by Ilyon Woo is about Eunice Chapman, who fought to get her children back from the Shaker community in the early 1800s after her alcoholic husband had joined the group with their children. This book presents not only the story of Eunice Chapman, but also addresses the legal standing of women and Eunice's ability to mobilize political and cultural forces against the Shaker community. It is a must read for anyone interested in American history, the Shakers and women...more
I have been interested in the Shakers and visited some of their villages, now museums, which focus on the positive aspects of their religion and communal living. This book told another side of their story. Eunice Chapman's husband took their children and joined the Shakers. Against formidible odds, Eunice got the NY State Legislature to pass a bill, giving her a divorce and enabling her to retrieve her three children. Author has done extensive research on Eunice's story and the local, Albany and...more
This book tells the story of Eunice Chapman, whose husband joined the Shakers in the early 1800s, taking their children with him. At a time when women, especially married women, had virtually no rights, she set about trying to divorce her husband and obtain custody of her children (interestingly, through the NY state legislature rather than the courts). The legal process and final determination are fascinating, the research conducted to write this book is remarkable, and all of it is enhanced by...more
This was a very interesting book. I knew women had few rights in the early part of the 19th century in America, but I don't think it hit me (until I read this book) that once you were married, you were "civilly dead." NO rights at all: no rights to your own children, let alone property, etc.
This is the story of one woman's fight to gain custody of her children, after her husband joins the Shakers and takes the children with him. She had quite a struggle, but her persistence paid off and paved th...more
This is the story of one woman's fight to gain custody of her children, after her husband joins the Shakers and takes the children with him. She had quite a struggle, but her persistence paid off and paved th...more
A true story of a mother's crusade to regain custody of her children. In the early 1800's, children were considered the property of the husband, as was his wife. This book chronicles a woman's fight to get her children back when her husband decides to join the Shaker community. Her fight takes her to the legislature of New York. The book is a terrific history of women's rights in the post-Revoluton era.
Although the author makes a very serious attempt to be impartial, she can't completely mask how she feels about the Shakers. Maybe because they were crazy! Wow, I never realized how crazy. It is such a frightening account of how few rights women had in the 1810s. Thank God for women who were willing to be considered shrewish to wrestle rights from the white men in power
There was lots I didn't know about the Shakers, and there were interesting details about 18th century life I hadn't considered. Well-paced, not dry (though the first chapter had too many commas). I wouldn't have heard of this book except the author lives in my neighborhood. I wasn't sorry to have bought it. Interesting topic.
Nonfiction andabout a woman in the 1820s trying to get her children and a divorce from her husband who had joined the Shaker community. It started off slow, but momentum built. It was thoroughly researched and all together a good read--but I did not know much about the Shaker religion.
This was incredibly inspiring. Only a parent understands the ferocity that a person can find within themselves in order to save their child. I can't imagine ever being separated from my babies and the lengths I would go to to get them back. This woman was able to overcome the greatest odds in time when women were considered civally dead. Remarkable to say the least.
Aug 10, 2010
Cindy
marked it as to-read
Saw a great review of this book here: http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5...
It was also featured on NPR: http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/201...
It was also featured on NPR: http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/201...
Interesting story and history of the Shakers, but the writing is so so dry that it reads like a research paper for a doctorate. Nonetheless, the strong lead character's quirks and charisma make the book read-worthy.
I've been going through a very painful divorce, along with a custody battle so I may be bias about this book. I found it so informative concerning the early days of marriage laws and how religion plays a part in our society. Loved this book.. and needed it too. I am not alone.. even though our struggles are slightly different and separated by many years. It was somewhat hard to read this book at times, but my determination in needing to know how she battled through the hard times, got me through...more
Interesting topic but mediocre storytelling. Learned about the Shakers, women's non-entity status, and discovered that NYS politicians have a deep history of being manipulated by lobbyists.
I had originally checked this book out for research on a story I'm currently writing regarding divorce. I enjoyed the story and the history behind it...but I couldn't get through it. One moment I was too annoyed with the "Holy" behavior of the Shaker community and the next I was too annoyed at the unnecessary random details that didn't apply to the story. Skimmed through and read the last few chapters and finally I just gave up altogether.
Child-snatching Shakers! In 1814, Eunice Chapman's worthless alcoholic husband kidnapped their three children and ran off to be a Shaker. For the next two years, Eunice rallied the press and politicians to get them back, launching a debate over marital law and religious tolerance. Notable for being sympathetic to the reasoning of both sides, while attempting to reconstruct the decision making of the New York Assembly, which couldn't quite work out if they wanted to uphold Federalist patriarchy o...more
This book is history pure and simple. Amazing amount of research went into it. Maybe too much! Sure gave me a different perspective on the Shaker community.
Close college friend is the author. Well written and well resaerched. Tells the real story of a remarkable woman. Reads almost like a novel.
Great work on a key but overlooked historical event. A woman take son her husband and the Shakers to get her children back in the early 1800's
A story about the beginning of the independence of women. very inspirational. It portrays the determination and strength of motherly love.
I found this book fascinating. While never liking the main character, I greatly admired her and her fight to regain her children.
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Apr 16, 2011 06:49am