The Life of Emmeline Pankhurst: The Suffragette Struggle for Women's Citizenship

by Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst

The Life of Emmeline The Suffragette Struggle for Women's Citizenship is a biography written by E. Sylvia Pankhurst about her mother, Emmeline Pankhurst, who was a leading figure in the British suffragette movement. The book chronicles Emmeline's life from her childhood in Manchester to her involvement in the suffragette movement and her eventual death in 1928. Emmeline's activism began in the late 19th century when she joined the Women's Franchise League, which was campaigning for women's right to vote. She later founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), which became known for its militant tactics, including hunger strikes and window smashing. Emmeline was arrested and imprisoned multiple times for her activism, but she continued to fight for women's suffrage until it was granted in 1918. The book also explores Emmeline's personal life, including her marriage to Richard Pankhurst and her relationships with her children. E. Sylvia Pankhurst provides a detailed and intimate portrait of her mother, drawing on personal letters and diaries as well as historical records. Overall, The Life of Emmeline Pankhurst is a compelling and informative account of one of the most important figures in the fight for women's rights. It sheds light on the struggles and sacrifices of the suffragette movement and the role that Emmeline Pankhurst played in shaping the course of history.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1936

About the author

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_....

Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst (5 May 1882 – 27 September 1960) was an English campaigner for the suffragette movement, a prominent left communist and, later, an activist in the cause of anti-fascism. She spent much of her later life agitating on behalf of Ethiopia, where she eventually moved.

Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst (she later dropped her first forename) was born in Manchester, a daughter of Dr Richard Pankhurst and Emmeline Pankhurst, who both later became founding members of the Independent Labour Party and were much concerned with women's rights. Sylvia and her sisters, Christabel and Adela, attended Manchester High School for Girls, and all three became suffragists.

Sylvia trained as an artist at the Manchester School of Art, and, in 1900, won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in South Kensington, London.[1]

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was introduced to the British suffragettes and the Pankhurst women by the six-part BBC television series "Shoulder to Shoulder" when it was shown on PBS in the seventies. There the broad division in the feminist movement was described in terms of the conflicts between Christabel and Sylvia, daughters of Emmeline Pankhurst, the first being a pure-and-simple "votes for women" militant, the second being a socialist feminist sensitive to the broader economic issues which mere citizenship would not resolve. My heart went out to Sylvia.
A few years later I acquired this, her biography of their mother, at the Bridgman, Michigan Public Library. Were it not for the BBC program I wouldn't have noticed it. Now, many years later, I've finally gotten around to reading it.
The book presupposes some familiarity with British history, British law and British government, it being on the level, say, of one of White's books about American presidential elections. A person unversed in these matters ought probably first read a history of the Anglo-American movements which obtained citizenship for women in the early 20th century.
Although Sylvia's socialist politics influence her perspective she is at pains to be fair, even to Christabel, who was, by all accounts, a difficult person. Indeed, she keeps herself and her activities in the movement in the background throughout. It is notable that of the three women, Sylvia alone remained a consistent progressive throughout her life, Christabel moving towards occultism and abandoning politics, Emmeline ending up a a Conservative candidate for parliament despite her socialist roots.
I developed a crush for the Sylvia Pankhurst represented in the BBC miniseries. Now, having read one of her many books, I adore her.

[Laura]

Fantastic biography of a very interesting woman.