Helen and Teacher: The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy

by Joseph P. Lash, Trude Lash

At the heart of this wonderful biography is the relationship between two great American women whose lives were bound together for all time. Joseph P. Lash, author of Eleanor and Franklin, follows this gifted, passionate, and humanly flawed pair for 100 years, from Annie's childhood in an almshouse in the 1860s, through decades of international fame, to Helen's death in 1968. Among the vivid characters associated with their lives are Alexander Graham Bell, Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, Charlie Chaplin, and Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Disability, Historical, Classics, Biography Memoir

832 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Joseph Paul Lash (1909–1987) was secretary and confidant to Eleanor Roosevelt and the author of numerous acclaimed books.

Reviews

[Iamshadow]

Highly recommended. It's a long haul at 800+ pages, but it's very interesting to find out about what happened to Helen and Anne Sullivan after those 'golden' childhood years that are often all that's talked about in lesser biographical accounts. For example, Helen's commitment as a suffragist, a socialist and a supporter of birth control were completely unknown to me, as were the years she, Annie and Polly Thompson (her interpreter following Annie's illness and death) spent on the vaudeville circuit during the thirties to make ends meet after the lecture circuits that had helped to support them previously dwindled and died with the economy.

Don't think that because of its length that it's dull or dry. It's not. Lash gives a very clear picture of Helen's life, from her early years through to her twilight years. He's thorough and sensitive, and his writing allows you to feel the growth of Helen, through her changing temperament and views, and her evolving mind. Anyone who wants to know about the other eighty or so years of Helen's life that are rarely mentioned should definitely track down this book. It's a keeper.

[Edy]

Helen Keller is a well-known historical figure. I knew a little about her--born sighted and hearing--illness left her blind, deaf, and mute. Enter Anne Sullivan--the miracle worker. Result, Helen blossoms. Oh, but there is so much more to know. This book presents the complexities of Helen including her politics, her fame, her indefatigable work for the all who suffer, and the symbiotic relationship with Anne Sulllivan. This book is so rich and wonderful and worth the effort to read its 786 pages.

[Andy]

Lash's dual biography is wonderfully engrossing. I read it on the heels of Dorothy Herrmann's biography, which I also liked. In her acknowledgements, however, she said that Lash's book was "too detailed," which seemed like an incongruous thing for a biographer to say for, of course, it depends what you're looking for. Herrmann's work was satisfying, but made me want to go deeper, and Lash gave me that opportunity.

[Sarah]

DNF'd about halfway through over the holidays and because it was literally too heavy to pickup and read while I had Covid, but I would really like to go back and complete it someday. I truly feel like I got to know Annie and Helen and I want to know the rest!

[Karyl]

I really wanted to enjoy this book. I picked it up years ago at a used book store in Washington state, and when I saw it on my shelf last month I decided it was time to read it. It has taken me 22 days to finish this book. Granted, it's almost 800 pages long, but it shouldn't take quite that long to finish.

The first few chapters were really amazing. I had no idea that Anne Sullivan (aka, Teacher) came from such dire straits, or even that she was visually impaired herself. I devoured all the introductory information on Teacher, and the beginning of the relationship with Helen Keller, within the first few days. I just could not put this book down. But once the book began to focus more on the public life of Helen Keller, it became so very, very dry. Occasionally the author would throw in little tidbits of who Helen Keller was, but generally he focused on the ongoing arguments between her and the American Foundation of the Blind on how much salary she was to draw and the financial difficulties she always found herself in. I also found it difficult to follow the author's chosen quotes; many times he simply throws one in, without a lead-in or an attribution. The author also tends to use pronouns rather indiscriminately, so it's difficult to tell exactly who has said the particular quote, or even the reason he chose to include that quote.

I would use this book only if I were doing research on Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy. I wouldn't recommend it for recreational reading. I am sure there are far more readable biographies on these two absolutely amazing ladies out there.

[Stephanie]

*gasping* Such a long book. An amazingly long book, in tiny-tiny print. 820 pages, with maybe about 120 pages' worth of interesting information. The rest ... well, Helen Keller was really into politics and philosophy and travel ... and this biographer was really into dry details.

I mean, my understanding is that, at a certain point in her life, Helen Keller had her real eyes replaced with glass ones. Did this book mention that interesting fact in 820 pages? Nope. But it managed to talk about her interest in Swedenborgian religion for endless pages.

I'm gonna stick with "The Miracle Worker" as my source material for Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan from now on.

[Eve (Also on StoryGraph: eve314)]

DNF at about page 170. I was looking for a book specifically about Annie Sullivan, but there isn’t much here that Dorothy Herrmann’s Helen Keller bio didn’t already cover, and more interestingly. The search continues.

[Kathy]

I learned so much about these two women that goes way beyond her “miracle”. The author is incredibly meticulous and goes deep into their lives. Helen fought against racism, poverty and many other issues, never backing away or muting her ethics.

[izeabu]

A good book. It didnt interest me at the begging but the ending was really good.

[Ann]

I read this book a couple years ago. It is truly two biographies in one ... with the author very successfully weaving the two together to help us discover the complexities of the releationship between Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. He does not skip over their borderline pathological dependency issues ... while at the same time celebrates the remarkable gifts that make these women two of the most interesting women of the 20th century. This is a wonderfully enlightening book for all who want to go beyond the familiar "stuff" we all know about Helen and Teacher. Interestingly, Helen Keller had a real "spirituality" about her ... speaking often of God (without ever really indicating what many of us would call a saving commitment to Christ)... I'm so thankful we leave those issues to a just and loving God. While Helen was definitely more "physically" handicapped, Annie Sullivan was definitely more "spiritually empty" individual ... and heartbreakingly so. For the most part, she wanted nothing to do with God and at times, I found myself longing to read that she finally found the Savior Who could have filled her spiritual emptiness. I could hardly put this book down ... even though its length can appear daunting !!

[Frrobins]

Overall, it was a relief to finish this book. At times is was fascinating and absorbing. At other times it read like a long dry list of Who's Who in Helen's life and her social engagements. I also found the first part of the book detailing Annie Sullivan's life and Helen's childhood development more interesting than the latter part.

Mr. Lash was certainly very thorough and came across as very objective and sympathetic to the motives of all of the actors in every dispute involved in the book. He sticks to the facts and is not prone to speculation. Unfortunately, at times the book does become rather dry and bogged down in the details. Still, there is an abundance of information and one leaves with a good impression of two remarkable women.

[Kevin Key]

Lash does a great job incorporating Helen's full life with much of her correspondences., which were many, including the receivers. Helen was an amazing person. There is no telling how influential should would have without her disabilities. In yet, it was the disabilities that gave her a unique platform. She was perfect for her time. It was revolutionary, as much as we are now today, adapting technology with the disabled to become "mainstream' in today's society. I do not agree with all her individual positions, however her contribution to the big picture was extraordinary.

[Elvis]

I kinda love this book, hardcore.

The writing is so fabulous, for nonfiction... a really easy, close and thoughtful look at the relationship btwn Helen Keller & her teacher, Annie Sullivan.

Awesome.

!

[Graceann]

Joseph Lash goes far beyond the legend of the water pump into the complex lives of these two dynamic women. Neither Helen nor Anne were saints; they were flesh-and-blood women with neuroses and frustrations, and Lash delves into these thoroughly, and yet with sensitivity.

[Don Trowden]

Terrific history of the story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan capturing the time period in Boston and America. Will inspire all who are feeling oppressed by life. And you will learn a good deal about American history and arts during that formative time period.

[Chelle]

Long, but fascniating. Very interesting to me all the "famous" folks that crossed paths with her.

[Sheila]

A biography about the lives of Helen Keller, her "teacher" Anne Sullivan, Polly Thomson, and all the others in Helen's life.

[Karen]

I've meant to read this for years and never got around to it. Quintessential biography.

[Dante]

Currently Reading. I love NON-FICTION.

[Joan]

One of the best biographies about Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy. Highly recommended!

[Lib 5030 Group 5]

JBIO KEL

[Jane Moore]

Read this years ago but want to read again

[Catwall]

Interesting, fascinating biography of Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, and what Helen Keller was able to accomplish.