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Sylvia Pankhurst: The Life and Loves of a Romantic Rebel
Born in Manchester in 1882, Sylvia grew up in a bohemian household that played host to great activists and artists such as Keir Hardie, George Bernard Shaw, William Morris, Thomas Mann, and Anne Besant. Sylvia inherited her father's unshakeable idealism, taking over an East End pub and converting it into a maternity clinic, a Montessori school, and a day nursery. Up until his death in 1915, Sylvia was involved in an anguished lover affair with Keir Hardie, co-founder of the Independent Labour Party. She finally made her home in Ethiopia, enthusiastically joining the people in their struggle for independence. On her death in 1960, she was honored with a State funeral. Drawing on her journals, letters, writings, and paintings, this is the fascinating story of her colorful life.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2003
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September 20, 2013
Shirley Harrison's biography of Sylvia Pankhurst is a well written appreciation of her life. The sub-title above, The Life and Loves of a Romantic Rebel indicate clearly the direction that Harrison takes this book. Sylvia's suffragette history is a small part of a life dedicated to helping others, fighting injustice and combating fascism, colonialism and prejudice. For her woman's suffrage was worthless unless it was about including all women from all social classes, causing her to split from her famous mother and older sister.
She had extraordinary energy which she diverted from her art to the pursuance of social justice and the war against Fascism. She gathered underdogs around her and fought tooth and nail for them.
Sylvia was a devoted mother if sometimes on the tigerish side and had two deep and lasting relationships, one with Keir Hardy to whom she was devoted; the other with her life partner Silvio, an Italian anarchist exile who was her best friend, father to her son and the quiet support she needed in her hectic life.
This book is an appreciation not a warts and all biography. Sylvia is a woman worth celebrating. Expect to be inspired by her.
She had extraordinary energy which she diverted from her art to the pursuance of social justice and the war against Fascism. She gathered underdogs around her and fought tooth and nail for them.
Sylvia was a devoted mother if sometimes on the tigerish side and had two deep and lasting relationships, one with Keir Hardy to whom she was devoted; the other with her life partner Silvio, an Italian anarchist exile who was her best friend, father to her son and the quiet support she needed in her hectic life.
This book is an appreciation not a warts and all biography. Sylvia is a woman worth celebrating. Expect to be inspired by her.
Displaying 1 of 1 review