A Hairdresser's Experience in High Life (Schomburg Library of Nineteenth-Century Black Women Writers) [Hardcover]

Eliza Potter (Author), Sharon G. Dean (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0195061985 | ISBN-13: 978-0195061987

Eliza Potter's 1859 autobiography expresses her indignation, abolitionist sentiments, fiery temper, and sheer joy of life as she reveals the private selves of the white women whose heads she "combed." As an insider on the margins, her identity provides a unique vantage point for her story and that of the elites of nineteenth-century Cincinnati society.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Insightful. . . . Santamarina's editorial work recovers Potter's autobiography and uncovers assumptions about the world from which that text arose."
--Choice --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Inside Flap

Here is the first fully annotated edition of a landmark in early African American literature, the 1859 autobiography of Eliza Potter, a freeborn black woman who, as a hairdresser, was in a unique position to hear about, receive confidences from, and observe wealthy white women. Xiomara Santamarina provides an insightful introduction to this edition that includes newly discovered information about Potter, discusses the author's strong satirical voice and proud working-class status, and places the narrative in the context of 19th-century literature and history. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 18, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195061985
• ISBN-13: 978-0195061987
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,521,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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