What do you think?
Rate this book
Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson
Eslanda Essie Cardozo Goode Robeson lived a colorful and amazing life. Her career and commitments took her many colonial Africa in 1936, the front lines of the Spanish Civil War, the founding meeting of the United Nations, Nazi-occupied Berlin, Stalin's Russia, and China two months after Mao's revolution. She was a woman of unusual accomplishment--an anthropologist, a prolific journalist, a tireless advocate of women's rights, an outspoken anti-colonial and antiracist activist, and an internationally sought-after speaker. Yet historians for the most part have confined Essie to the role of Mrs. Paul Robeson, a wife hidden in the large shadow cast by her famous husband. In this masterful book, biographer Barbara Ransby refocuses attention on Essie, one of the most important and fascinating black women of the twentieth century. Chronicling Essie's eventful life, the book explores her influence on her husband's early career and how she later achieved her own unique political voice. Essie's friendships with a host of literary icons and world leaders, her renown as a fierce defender of justice, her defiant testimony before Senator Joseph McCarthy's infamous anti-communist committee, and her unconventional open marriage that endured for over 40 years--all are brought to light in the pages of this inspiring biography. Essie's indomitable personality shines through, as do her contributions to United States and twentieth-century world history.
590 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2012
14 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Ransby
13 books80 followersBarbara Ransby is an historian, writer and longtime activist. She is a Professor of African American Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, and History at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where she directs both the campus-wide Social Justice Initiative and the Gender and Women’s Studies Program. She previously served as Interim Vice Provost for Planning and Programs (2011 -2012) at UIC. Prof. Ransby is author of the highly acclaimed biography, Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision. The book received eight national awards and recognitions including: Lillian Smith Book Award, Southern Regional Council; Joan Kelly Memorial Prize, American Historical Association; Letitia Woods Brown Memorial Prize, Association of Black Women Historians; Liberty Legacy Foundation Award (co-winner), Organization of American Historians; James A. Rawley Prize, Organization of American Historians; Honorable Mention, 2004 Berkshire Conference First Book Prize, Berkshire Conference of Women Historians; Honor Book, Black Caucus of the American Library Association; Outstanding Book Award, Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights in North America.
(from http://barbararansby.com/about-2/)
(from http://barbararansby.com/about-2/)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 27, 2016
Whew! On occasion, I felt as though I needed to catch my breath while reading the autobiography of Eslanda (Essie) Cardozo Goode Robeson, by Barbara Ransby. I often imagined myself traveling with Essie during her journeys throughout Africa, Europe, South America, Asia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean.
Born in Washington, D. C., in 1895, Essie’s ancestral history included freed and unfree African slaves and Sephardic Jews. Her maternal great-grandfather was a Sephardic Jew from Spain. During Reconstruction, her grandfather, Francis Lewis Cardozo, was the first African American to hold a statewide office in South Carolina. Francis Cardozo High School in Washington, D. C., still bears his name. The Cardozo’s were a distant relative to Supreme Court Justice, Benjamin Nathan Cardozo.
Essie met handsome, six-four, Paul Robeson in 1919. They both attended Columbia University; she was a pre-med student (graduated with a B.S. in chemistry), and Paul attended Columbia Law School. The two often exchanged ideas concerning politics and the world. In 1920, Essie fell in love with Paul, and in 1921, they were married.
Paul graduated from law school in 1922. While employed at a New York City law firm, he experienced undue bias from office staff and quit.
Essie supported Paul in her job as the first, Black, chief histological chemist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Paul had a rich, baritone-bass voice, so she encouraged him to sing.
Paul became a renowned concert singer and actor in New York, London and Paris. Essie managed his career and traveled throughout Europe with him.
At five-three, some considered Essie abrasive and verbally aggressive. But Essie with Paul’s interest in mind, was cautious in her dealings concerning his career. She was also a devoted wife who was very much in love with Paul. In 1927, they had a son, Paul, Jr.
It is not discussed whether their marriage woes or frequent traveling affected their son. Essie’s mother was their son’s caregiver during their travels abroad. However, the family lived in London for several years.
Early on in the marriage, Essie discovered Paul’s non-monogamous desires. Yet Paul’s short-term dalliances had not overshadowed his career. Conscientious about his profession, he used constraint in his interracial affairs, but Essie always knew, even when he betrayed her with her friends. His long-term relationship with a wealthy English woman almost led to him divorcing Essie.
Essie almost caved in when he requested a divorce, but she believed in their eternal commitment, and stood her ground. Paul returned to Essie; he wanted a solidly knit relationship with her and their son. Yet without qualm, he had continual involvements with other women.
Paul’s emotional unfaithfulness exacted a serious toll on their marriage. Paul was Essie’s first love and the father of their only child. She performed a variety of important tasks, not only as his wife, confidante, and defender when necessary, but she inspired, encouraged, supported and provided an honest evaluation of his talent. She worked hard to help develop Paul’s career, and in the early years, was his manager, publicist, and agent.
Later, they reached a compromise in their marriage. They would stay together, but maintain an open marriage.
Essie and Paul traveled to the Soviet Union in 1934 at the request of Soviet Movie Director, Sergei Eisenstein. Afterwards, there would be a series of traveling to and from the Soviet Union by Essie and Paul for over 20 years. In fact, their son would attend public school there for over a year. Later, during her illness in the late 1950s and early 1960s, she received medical care in Russia and East Germany.
The Robeson's were branded un-American during the early 1950s and appeared before the Senate Committee on Un-American Activities. Essie and Paul denied being Communists. Yet they would lose their passports, finances, and some of their friends. In addition, they were watched by American and British Intelligence.
In 1936, Essie traveled to South and West Africa with her nine-year-old son. At that time, Africa was still colonized by the British, Dutch, and French. Essie became a strong advocate for decolonization not only in Africa but also in Asia. Two years later, she became a proponent against fascism after witnessing, along with Paul Sr., the ravages of war torn Spain during the Spanish Civil War.
Essie became a world traveler, trekking across continents, writing, and lecturing about decolonization, and American Civil Rights. She wrote a book, titled African Journey. Sometimes in her speeches, she paralleled racism and colonization. The British, French and the Boers weren’t happy with her visiting their African colonies. Twice she became very ill during her travels overseas. I believe her food might have been tampered with.
During the later years of her life, no longer seen or addressed as Mrs. Paul Robeson, in her own right, Essie was known as an anthropologist, activist, prolific writer, lecturer, and author.
Eslanda (Essie) Cardozo Robeson, was a good wife, mother, daughter, and loyal friend, strong, willful, resourceful, and assertive. As an activist, she fought a good fight. She stood up for the poor, the colonized and disenfranchised throughout the world during the 1930s and 1960s.
This book is chock-full of world history covering the 1920s to the early 1960s. Essie was also involved in the U.N. during its inception. She was friends or acquainted with renowned men and women such as Jomo Kenyatta, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vijaya (Nan) Pandit, Patrice Lumumba, and Kwame Nkrumah, Writer and Socialist, Shirley and W.E. B. DuBois, Harlem Renaissance’s Langston Hughes and Lorraine Hansberry, and Newspaper owner, Charlotta Bass, etc.
Essie had diaries and journals, but the autobiographer did not address her emotions concerning Paul. I believe Essie’s constant, continual travels somewhat lessened the intensity of pain by Paul’s affairs.
I gave this book five stars.
Born in Washington, D. C., in 1895, Essie’s ancestral history included freed and unfree African slaves and Sephardic Jews. Her maternal great-grandfather was a Sephardic Jew from Spain. During Reconstruction, her grandfather, Francis Lewis Cardozo, was the first African American to hold a statewide office in South Carolina. Francis Cardozo High School in Washington, D. C., still bears his name. The Cardozo’s were a distant relative to Supreme Court Justice, Benjamin Nathan Cardozo.
Essie met handsome, six-four, Paul Robeson in 1919. They both attended Columbia University; she was a pre-med student (graduated with a B.S. in chemistry), and Paul attended Columbia Law School. The two often exchanged ideas concerning politics and the world. In 1920, Essie fell in love with Paul, and in 1921, they were married.
Paul graduated from law school in 1922. While employed at a New York City law firm, he experienced undue bias from office staff and quit.
Essie supported Paul in her job as the first, Black, chief histological chemist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Paul had a rich, baritone-bass voice, so she encouraged him to sing.
Paul became a renowned concert singer and actor in New York, London and Paris. Essie managed his career and traveled throughout Europe with him.
At five-three, some considered Essie abrasive and verbally aggressive. But Essie with Paul’s interest in mind, was cautious in her dealings concerning his career. She was also a devoted wife who was very much in love with Paul. In 1927, they had a son, Paul, Jr.
It is not discussed whether their marriage woes or frequent traveling affected their son. Essie’s mother was their son’s caregiver during their travels abroad. However, the family lived in London for several years.
Early on in the marriage, Essie discovered Paul’s non-monogamous desires. Yet Paul’s short-term dalliances had not overshadowed his career. Conscientious about his profession, he used constraint in his interracial affairs, but Essie always knew, even when he betrayed her with her friends. His long-term relationship with a wealthy English woman almost led to him divorcing Essie.
Essie almost caved in when he requested a divorce, but she believed in their eternal commitment, and stood her ground. Paul returned to Essie; he wanted a solidly knit relationship with her and their son. Yet without qualm, he had continual involvements with other women.
Paul’s emotional unfaithfulness exacted a serious toll on their marriage. Paul was Essie’s first love and the father of their only child. She performed a variety of important tasks, not only as his wife, confidante, and defender when necessary, but she inspired, encouraged, supported and provided an honest evaluation of his talent. She worked hard to help develop Paul’s career, and in the early years, was his manager, publicist, and agent.
Later, they reached a compromise in their marriage. They would stay together, but maintain an open marriage.
Essie and Paul traveled to the Soviet Union in 1934 at the request of Soviet Movie Director, Sergei Eisenstein. Afterwards, there would be a series of traveling to and from the Soviet Union by Essie and Paul for over 20 years. In fact, their son would attend public school there for over a year. Later, during her illness in the late 1950s and early 1960s, she received medical care in Russia and East Germany.
The Robeson's were branded un-American during the early 1950s and appeared before the Senate Committee on Un-American Activities. Essie and Paul denied being Communists. Yet they would lose their passports, finances, and some of their friends. In addition, they were watched by American and British Intelligence.
In 1936, Essie traveled to South and West Africa with her nine-year-old son. At that time, Africa was still colonized by the British, Dutch, and French. Essie became a strong advocate for decolonization not only in Africa but also in Asia. Two years later, she became a proponent against fascism after witnessing, along with Paul Sr., the ravages of war torn Spain during the Spanish Civil War.
Essie became a world traveler, trekking across continents, writing, and lecturing about decolonization, and American Civil Rights. She wrote a book, titled African Journey. Sometimes in her speeches, she paralleled racism and colonization. The British, French and the Boers weren’t happy with her visiting their African colonies. Twice she became very ill during her travels overseas. I believe her food might have been tampered with.
During the later years of her life, no longer seen or addressed as Mrs. Paul Robeson, in her own right, Essie was known as an anthropologist, activist, prolific writer, lecturer, and author.
Eslanda (Essie) Cardozo Robeson, was a good wife, mother, daughter, and loyal friend, strong, willful, resourceful, and assertive. As an activist, she fought a good fight. She stood up for the poor, the colonized and disenfranchised throughout the world during the 1930s and 1960s.
This book is chock-full of world history covering the 1920s to the early 1960s. Essie was also involved in the U.N. during its inception. She was friends or acquainted with renowned men and women such as Jomo Kenyatta, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vijaya (Nan) Pandit, Patrice Lumumba, and Kwame Nkrumah, Writer and Socialist, Shirley and W.E. B. DuBois, Harlem Renaissance’s Langston Hughes and Lorraine Hansberry, and Newspaper owner, Charlotta Bass, etc.
Essie had diaries and journals, but the autobiographer did not address her emotions concerning Paul. I believe Essie’s constant, continual travels somewhat lessened the intensity of pain by Paul’s affairs.
I gave this book five stars.
February 19, 2020
I started to read this book a few years ago, then I moved and only now found it in a box at the back of the closet and just read it thru in a few days. A review above mine perfectly sums up Eslanda's exciting life, so I'll just limit myself to one facet which is of particular interest to me because since I started to read this book three friends of mine have left their husbands because of spousal infidelity.
Eslanda was one smart lady. She was married to one of the most appealing men on the planet and she was, IMO, realistic enough not have an expectation of fidelity, especially from this man of legendary magnetism whose feelings for her had from the start not been impassioned. She relished being Mrs. Paul Robeson. Having steered her husband's career toward the worldwide acclaim he achieved, Essie did not intend to be pushed out of the picture.
She pursued a career of her own, traveled extensively by herself and developed a vast network of people who deeply respected this lively, and charming lady. Like Paul, Essie had intimate relationships outside of their marriage which endured throughout her lifetime.
Eslanda was one smart lady. She was married to one of the most appealing men on the planet and she was, IMO, realistic enough not have an expectation of fidelity, especially from this man of legendary magnetism whose feelings for her had from the start not been impassioned. She relished being Mrs. Paul Robeson. Having steered her husband's career toward the worldwide acclaim he achieved, Essie did not intend to be pushed out of the picture.
She pursued a career of her own, traveled extensively by herself and developed a vast network of people who deeply respected this lively, and charming lady. Like Paul, Essie had intimate relationships outside of their marriage which endured throughout her lifetime.
December 30, 2015
This book was a very well written. In the beginning of the book, I wondered if there was a connection to the Cordoba High School in DC and was pleasantly surprised that both schools were named for her grandfather. Barbara is a very good writer and it reads pleasantly rather like a text book or a documentary.
Barbara Ransby has created an insightful, absorbing, and noteworthy biography. Eslanda Robeson was more remarkable than her husband, Paul Robeson. She was also an important writer and political activist in her own right. She was a prolific journalist, UN correspondent, anthropologist and writer of novels, plays and essays. It kind of detailed the evolution of African-American intellectual life, the development of Pan-African consciousness and a social history of the major global struggles.
She definitely sent her husband to her friend for voice lessons. I am not sure I could get past his cheating or as the book referred to the marriage “unconventional open marriage that endured for over 40 years” HUMPH!!! Essie was a better person than her talented hubby.
Barbara Ransby has created an insightful, absorbing, and noteworthy biography. Eslanda Robeson was more remarkable than her husband, Paul Robeson. She was also an important writer and political activist in her own right. She was a prolific journalist, UN correspondent, anthropologist and writer of novels, plays and essays. It kind of detailed the evolution of African-American intellectual life, the development of Pan-African consciousness and a social history of the major global struggles.
She definitely sent her husband to her friend for voice lessons. I am not sure I could get past his cheating or as the book referred to the marriage “unconventional open marriage that endured for over 40 years” HUMPH!!! Essie was a better person than her talented hubby.
January 13, 2026
I have a deep admiration for Eslanda Robeson after reading this and in many ways, I feel her story resonates with me. She loves Africa as much as I do and was a staunch unapologetic Pan-Africanist and scientific socialist. We are both world travellers with nomadic spirits who travel primarily where the struggle takes us. Plus, I resonate with her as a reporter since she was a journalist and anthropologist who spent much time interviewing people from different places as well. Of course, she is much more accomplished that I am and she has traversed much greater hardships and put through many more trials so I will stop comparing myself to her beyond the aforementioned reasons why I relate to her. I'll be honest though, even though I really really appreciated this book and it was well done overall, I don't think Barbara Ransby understands Essie (as she calls her) quite as well. I could tell that the biography was written by an intersectional feminist and Black Lives Matter organizer and not necessarily a Pan-Africanist and communist who understands the primacy of Africa and scientific socialist tools of analysis. It was still good, I just feel like there was a slight ideological gap between the subject and the biographer that I am able to pick up on as someone who has been ideologically trained by the A-APRP. I will say, this book definitely made me want to read Eslanda Robeson's primary sources. I didn't realize she was such a prolific writer who authored multiple books and articles. I will definitely be reading more of her work. Long live revolutionary Pan-African women!
May 18, 2020
Consider this a most read book about a woman known as Mrs. Robeson but who distinguished herself as radical woman, a talented writer, and an advocate and leader in her own right. Barbara Ransby has once again written a thoughtful and insightful book about a woman many history books have overlooked.
April 19, 2020
“Essie had left the United States in 1928 as a young mother, ambitious, easily impressed, and
idealistic. She returned a seasoned traveler, experienced writer, emergent activist, budding
anthropologist, and woman of deepening political convictions. She now saw herself as an
advocate for the colonized world, an ally of the socialist (and communist) world, and in some
respects a nascent feminist.” (136)
The ways she transformed into her own life was marvelous. Her work for herself and her husband and
family were so important to so many. I loved learning about her life in this text and I am really glad this was the last book to sum up my first year of grad school.
idealistic. She returned a seasoned traveler, experienced writer, emergent activist, budding
anthropologist, and woman of deepening political convictions. She now saw herself as an
advocate for the colonized world, an ally of the socialist (and communist) world, and in some
respects a nascent feminist.” (136)
The ways she transformed into her own life was marvelous. Her work for herself and her husband and
family were so important to so many. I loved learning about her life in this text and I am really glad this was the last book to sum up my first year of grad school.
October 9, 2021
A cogent exposition of a larger than life span which, like her husband's gets less recognition than deserved. There are some editorial lapses (Boar not Boer, Hempstead not Hampstead etc) but these are blemishes on an otherwise well written record that bestrides the globe and highlights the excesses of colonialism and civil injustice.
August 25, 2017
I didn't want the book or her life to end. Fascinating and well researched and written. I highly recommend it.
Read
October 22, 2025Chapters 4 and 5.
November 13, 2023
Read this for a class. It tells the story of 20th century anti racial-capitalist activism in a Forrest Gump style. Essie obviously was more proactive in her story, but the style of redoing the stories of these movements through the biography of a single person is similar. If I was not under intense time pressure to read this book, it might’ve gotten 4 stars. The writing style isn’t so engaging, even though the content of the story was intriguing
February 1, 2014
Essie Goode Robeson led a 20th century life of activism, writing, travel and the arts. She faced many personal challenges as the spouse and sometime manager of actor-singer Paul Robeson. As African American political radicals with a global reputation, both faced persecution during the 1950's Red Scare. Barbara Ransby did meticulous research for the book and was successful in placing Essie Good Robeson's life in a larger context. Essie Good Robeson developed into what we would call today an "intersectional feminist", a person who saw women as key leaders in the struggle for global justice against any form of oppression.
Barbara Ransby is a neighbor of mine and is well known in both the academic and activist community.
Barbara Ransby is a neighbor of mine and is well known in both the academic and activist community.
January 25, 2016
I loved the history and people who were incorporated into this story of a fascinating woman, Eslanda Robeson. The author certainly proved Eslanda stood as her own groundbreaking figure. She took her own education and training into national and international politics of the 20th Century, while managing the career of her world-famous history. Their marriage and politics and success were all complicated but that made the story all the more engrossing.
August 27, 2013
I enjoyed getting to know Eslanda. The story is well written. I think her life is so interwoven with her husband that he get more than an equal share of this book. She was a bright light to a man that was often depressed. I loved her can -do attitude. I would have liked to have had a passage that stated what her son felt about his parents life.
Read
October 18, 2013301.092 R212 2013
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews