Memoir of a Modernist's Daughter

by Eleanor Munro

The author recounts her experiences growing up as the daughter of a Modernist philosopher and teacher, who had rigid ideas on how children should be raised

Paperback

First published April 1, 1988

Reviews

[Hubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A literary reflection of a mid-century arts writer, tracing her upbringing from her erudite arts educator father (who would at the time have been considered a progressive, worldly), who was protective of his daughter and brought her up using unique educational methods of the time.

The second half of the book is focused on her marriage to the significantly older editor of Art news Alfred Frankfurter.

The writer's voice is fussy at times, but this is a valuable document of a glimpse of the New York Art World in the middle of the 20th century, and a worthy study.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at about a third of the way through. I love autobiographies, especially non-traditional women's. This promised a look into the New York art and intelligentsia scene of the 1950s. Sounds good, right?

Well, if you are looking for deeply reflective prose written by an acclaimed poet; or details of what an egotistical larger-than-life father is like; or, the types of verbiage you expect from humanities PhDs...this is your place.

I honestly tried.

I wasn't looking for froth or gossip, just an account of every day life so I could picture being in that world as a woman. This is not that.