Through Women's Eyes

by Ellen Carol DuBois, Lynn Dumenil

Hardcover

First published October 27, 2009

About the author

Ellen Carol Dubois is a distinguished professor of history and gender studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned her bachelor's degree at Wellesley in 1968 and her Ph.D. from Northwestern in 1975.

Reviews

[Veronica Hart]

This book, written in 1861, purportedly by a slave who taught herself to read and write, is not an easy read, but once attuned to her style, it becomes engrossing. While Linda, the protagonist, lives a reasonably comfortable life compared to the other slaves in her world, she resists the concept of being owned by anyone. When her owner, a local doctor, pursues her, she resists, causing more hardship for herself. Following her journey, I found myself gaping in disbelief at what she did to save herself and the two children she eventually had with a white man. The white man becomes a congressman, promises to free her and their children, but "forgets" to do so. It is worth the read for its historical significance.