Failure Is Impossible: Susan B. Anthony in Her Own Words [Paperback]

Lynn Sherr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 1996

Juxtaposed with contemporary reports and biographical essays, the words of this legendary suffragist reveal Susan B. Anthony as a loyal, caring friend, and an eloquent, humorous crusader. "More than a collection of well-arranged quotations, the work informs, inspires, and gives historical perspective."--The Houston Post. 33 photos & illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This collection of excerpts from speeches and letters by women's rights advocate Anthony (1820-1906) reflects her activism on many issues, including female suffrage, the abolition of slavery, temperance, domestic violence and legal rights of married women. Sherr, a correspondent for ABC's 20/20 and coauthor of Susan B. Anthony Slept Here, accompanies Anthony's eloquent words with informed biographical essays. Anthony's spirited 50-year fight to gain the vote for women is detailed here, as well as the anger she expressed when friend and antislavery activist Frederick Douglass excluded women from his fight for voting rights for African Americans. After being jailed for voting illegally, Anthony wrote, "It was we, the people, not we, the white male citizens, but we, the whole people who formed this union." The 19th Amendment, granting voting rights to women, was passed 14 years after Anthony's death. Illustrations.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

"Away with your man-visions! Women propose to reject them all, and begin to dream dreams for themselves," writes Anthony in one selection from this sprightly collection of her correspondence, speeches, interviews, and published writings. Sherr, 20/20 correspondent and coauthor of Susan B. Anthony Slept Here (LJ 5/1/94), has arranged the selections by topic-"Oh Slavery, Hateful Thing," "The Original Frequent Flier," "Get Money, Get Wealth," etc.-and chronologically within topics. Specialists may object that this arrangement distorts the historical meaning of some selections; this reader regretted that the leading chapter concerned Anthony's marital status. These are quibbles, however, for this is a fascinating and accessible volume. Sherr includes a brief but choice bibliography and notes that most of the selections are in the microfilm edition of The Papers of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, available to library patrons in some areas. Essential for public, high school, and academic libraries.
Carolynne Myall, Eastern Washington Univ. Libs., Cheney
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Times Books (January 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812927184
• ISBN-13: 978-0812927184
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book - buy it., May 15, 2000

By 

"victorias" (Palo Alto CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Failure Is Impossible: Susan B. Anthony in Her Own Words (Paperback)

My youngest daughter (7 yrs old) needed to do a biography on a famous woman for school and chose Susan B. Anthony. I must admit I didn't know very much about her other than she was the leader of the sufferage movement.

I looked on Amazon and chose this book because of the reviews. The book is specatular. It is a collection of her speeches with connective writing from the writer providing historical perspective.

The combination of Ms. Anthony's own words with the understanding of women's position in society at the time made for a very powerful book. The first chapter made the most impact on my daughter which begins with the facts about women in those days.

I believe this is a book that needs to be in everyone's library.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, really makes you feel like you know Susan., July 27, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Failure Is Impossible: Susan B. Anthony in Her Own Words (Paperback)

This is absolutely one of my favorite historical biographies. This book really makes real what an influential person Susan B. Anthony was in her own day, and who she really was. The in-depth direct quoting from writings of the time and the extensive documentation together present a strong case. After reading this book, it's shocking to me that someone this important in our history would need a major struggle to have her statue drug out of the basement into the light of the Capitol Rotunda.

I found the book very inspiring, because Ms Anthony devoted her life to what must have seemed to most people at the time to be a hopeless cause: women's suffrage. She constantly had to pitch her case to those who could grant suffrage; those who one might think would be least sympathetic: men. Her dedication to her cause and her success in making progress is a valuable lesson to anyone faced with a seemingly impossible task.

I cannot thank Ms Sherr enough for this wonderful book, and beg her to continue applying her talents to fill in our women's history gaps

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Took the words right out of Susan's mouth, May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Failure Is Impossible: Susan B. Anthony in Her Own Words (Paperback)

A complete, entertaining, informative, and poignant tribute to one of America's most self-sacrificing and spunky heroines. Full of quotes that make you want to laugh, cry, and stand up on a soapbox. Its best quality is the wide range of appeal: HERstory experts can find in-depth quptes and minute details, both women and men will be inspired by this courageous woman. Sherr does an excellent job of compiling the quote so that they flow almost by themselves, and fills in the gaps when necessary. After reading the book, you will truly believe that "Failure is impossible!"