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Victory with Valor
Victory with Valor was inspired by the life of Carrie Chapman Catt, the remarkable leader of the women's suffrage movement in America. The novel brings history to life in an exciting story of political intrigue and sexual bias. It shows how courage, grassroots strategy, and commitment by Carrie and her fellow suffragists brought victory for women in 1920.
When Carrie, a thirteen-year-old Iowa farm girl, discovered her mother couldn’t vote in the 1872 presidential election, her purpose in life became clear: Women should be allowed to vote. In the years that followed, she was the only female in her graduating class at Iowa State Agricultural College. She then worked as a law clerk, a teacher and in 1885 became the first female superintendent of schools in Mason City, Iowa.
Carrie established her own speaking business, which led to an invitation to speak at the national convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. She succeeded Susan B. Anthony as its president. She met with kings, queens, Mahatmas Gandhi, Mussolini, and other world figures.
On a personal note, she was married and widowed twice. Both husbands supported her efforts, but she grappled with her dedication to woman suffrage and her role as a wife. Victory with Valor features compelling characters facing seemingly insurmountable challenges against a backdrop of social and political transformation.
When Carrie, a thirteen-year-old Iowa farm girl, discovered her mother couldn’t vote in the 1872 presidential election, her purpose in life became clear: Women should be allowed to vote. In the years that followed, she was the only female in her graduating class at Iowa State Agricultural College. She then worked as a law clerk, a teacher and in 1885 became the first female superintendent of schools in Mason City, Iowa.
Carrie established her own speaking business, which led to an invitation to speak at the national convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. She succeeded Susan B. Anthony as its president. She met with kings, queens, Mahatmas Gandhi, Mussolini, and other world figures.
On a personal note, she was married and widowed twice. Both husbands supported her efforts, but she grappled with her dedication to woman suffrage and her role as a wife. Victory with Valor features compelling characters facing seemingly insurmountable challenges against a backdrop of social and political transformation.
388 pages, Paperback
Published October 11, 2020
About the author
Barbara Robison
4 books2 followersCourage, grass roots strategy and commitment by Carrie Chapman Catt and her fellow suffragists gave American women the right to vote in 1920. A hundred years later, Barbara Robison weaves a story about this fascinating woman (her cousin twice removed) and that time in American history.
Barbara’s grandfather was Carrie Chapman Catt’s cousin, so as a child the author heard about Carrie’s accomplishments and her place in history.
Barbara was born and raised in Wisconsin and earned a degree in home economics/dietetics from the University of Iowa. She began her career as a home economist and a registered dietitian. Barbara then directed the consumer affairs programs for the Western Growers Association, then Sunkist Growers, Inc.
She honed her writing skills by producing numerous press releases and consumer education materials and co-authoring two Sunkist cookbooks.
Barbara was active in several trade organizations including the United Fresh Produce Association and the Produce Marketing Association. She served as national president of Home Economists in Business.
She also volunteered in the campaign offices for several state and national political candidates over the years.
After she retired, Barbara wrote articles for several food industry trade publications. She served on the board of directors for Hillsides, a Pasadena nonprofit organization that helps children and families. She also worked on programs assisting women and children in distress at a local YWCA.
Barbara and her late husband, the journalist Lewis Robison, had one son. Clint married Christine and they provided her with two grandsons.
Barbara, 95, lives in Southern California and has voted in every national and a state election since she was eligible to vote.
Victory with Valor is her first novel.
Barbara’s grandfather was Carrie Chapman Catt’s cousin, so as a child the author heard about Carrie’s accomplishments and her place in history.
Barbara was born and raised in Wisconsin and earned a degree in home economics/dietetics from the University of Iowa. She began her career as a home economist and a registered dietitian. Barbara then directed the consumer affairs programs for the Western Growers Association, then Sunkist Growers, Inc.
She honed her writing skills by producing numerous press releases and consumer education materials and co-authoring two Sunkist cookbooks.
Barbara was active in several trade organizations including the United Fresh Produce Association and the Produce Marketing Association. She served as national president of Home Economists in Business.
She also volunteered in the campaign offices for several state and national political candidates over the years.
After she retired, Barbara wrote articles for several food industry trade publications. She served on the board of directors for Hillsides, a Pasadena nonprofit organization that helps children and families. She also worked on programs assisting women and children in distress at a local YWCA.
Barbara and her late husband, the journalist Lewis Robison, had one son. Clint married Christine and they provided her with two grandsons.
Barbara, 95, lives in Southern California and has voted in every national and a state election since she was eligible to vote.
Victory with Valor is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 28, 2021
Excellent, very readable. Brings the struggle to vivid life. (Sorry to say, the author passed away in November 2021. She was distantly related to suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt so heard about her all her life.) The book takes you around the world, surprisingly. As author Ellen Snortland writes on the back cover, "...gives readers a new appreciation for the efforts and sacrifices made by Carrie Chapman Catt [and others]."
December 9, 2020
A very thorough account of of the struggles, set-backs, and successes of women suffrage, including the major role of Carrie Chapman Catt, nationally and internationally. At times, it was a slow read due to the intense content, however, I highly recommend it for the knowledge one would acquire. I found humor in the midst of the history, that the author would mention romance and hint of love making. Also, it was disheartening to be faced with the reality of history repeating itself in this present age: riots and violence, corruption in the government, blaming of a foreign country for manipulating the vote, the treatment of “people of color” and immigrants, better working conditions and equal pay for women, improved education, housing, healthcare, and a pandemic. It makes me wonder how much have we really learned from our past and have we really advanced at all in the important aspects of civilization. Are we teaching enough history in our schools?
October 4, 2021
Victory with Valor is a political fiction set in 1866. The story begins with Carrie taking a train to California. Her husband is ill with a fever, and before she gets there, she learns that he has passed on. Grief takes over her loss, and life isn’t the same for her. We slowly watch Carrie begin to heal and find a purpose in her life.
I was intrigued when Carrie began to fight for her suffrage and attended the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Her personality was admirable, and the story was enjoyable to read. The book is filled with historical facts, and the literature was written well.
Carrie’s character really pulls the story together, and it is effortless to bond with her character. The detailed descriptive nature of the story was a pleasant addition to the storyline.
I recommend this book to historical fiction fans and those who like to read political fiction.
I was intrigued when Carrie began to fight for her suffrage and attended the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Her personality was admirable, and the story was enjoyable to read. The book is filled with historical facts, and the literature was written well.
Carrie’s character really pulls the story together, and it is effortless to bond with her character. The detailed descriptive nature of the story was a pleasant addition to the storyline.
I recommend this book to historical fiction fans and those who like to read political fiction.
December 23, 2021
I read this book twice because I designed the cover and pages. The first time, I read the chapters out of order because I was more concerned with page layout and processing the proofreader's feedback.
Now that I've had the luxury of reading the novel in a leisurely way, I'm impressed with the author's level of research and how she communicated the tremendous amount of work by Carrie Chapman Catt and hundreds of other women. The fight to get the 19th Amendment passes is one of the most dramatic stories in American history.
Now that I've had the luxury of reading the novel in a leisurely way, I'm impressed with the author's level of research and how she communicated the tremendous amount of work by Carrie Chapman Catt and hundreds of other women. The fight to get the 19th Amendment passes is one of the most dramatic stories in American history.
November 3, 2020
This novel is so timely, in this, the one hundredth year of the passing of the 19th amendment which gave U.S. woman the right to vote. We follow the indefatigable Carrie Chapman Catt as she surmounts personal tragedies and handles prejudices with charm and a steely determination. We travel the world with her in her quest to befriend and unite women of other countries. Well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews