Customer Reviews

Molly Brown: Unraveling the Myth

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ok folks, let's get down to it. I've not left a review before because I thought it might sound as though I was being overly supportive with a bias. Well,I am overly supportive and I do have a bias. I am one of Margaret Browns great granddaughters.
I can't tell you how thrilled we were when Kristen got in touch with us and asked if we would speak with her. It was so exciting to know that someone was going to tell the truth about Margaret! I must tell you that the other material that was out there before Kristen wrote her book was astonishing. There was Timberline. Although it was entertaining, Mr. Fowler had my great grandmother
being raised on the milk of a nanny goat by a drunken Irishman named Shamus. This was due to the "fact" that Molly's mother had died from a broken heart when Molly was but six months old because she had birthed such an unnatural child!
We then have an incredible book by Carolyn Bancroft. She painted Margaret as a crude, brash, foul mouthed, illiterate, baffoon.
I must say however, in defense of Mrs. Bancroft, she grew up hearing simply terrible tales about my family. It is my understanding that her father and my great grandfather were bitter enimies ( family stories have J.J. Brown physically kicking Mr. Bancroft down his office steps...ouch!).
What I would like to tell you is this. From a member of the family, if you want to read a book that had the truth about Margaret Brown ... this is it! It also has some amazing pictures that had never been seen by the public prior to the release of this book. My favorite is Margaret and my grandmother atop camels just before Margaret left to sail on Titanic. Perfectly horrid hats but what a hoot!
I really hope that you enjoy this book. Margaret would have loved it!

It was refreshing to finally read a book that contains the FACTS of Margaret Brown. Kristen Iversen does a wonderful job in her research with the Brown family and the forward is written by Muffet Brown (Margaret's great grand daughter). This book is a true celebration of women. It covers so much of her life and the important role she played in womens sufferage. Margaret was truly a remarkable, kind, and generous woman, far beyond her time. Talk about a MODERN woman! She traveled ALONE around the world without her husband, something that was UNHEARD of in the early 20th century. I coulnd't put this book down! If you are interested in the Titanic, the history of remarkable women and Newport, New York and Denver society - read this book. Margaret was a well respected and well regarded woman who WAS Denver society. Forget any of the trash you have read about this woman being a foul mouthed, tacky, Denver soceity wannabe....this books contains only the facts of what Margeret was, is and why all the myths of her live on...... Truly a fascinating woman!

This book reads like a good novel, but is footnoted at every turn. It has an astonishingly large bibliography for a character in history who was relatively unknown -- even by her own family -- before this book was written. I loved the structure of the book, and the way she placed the body of it between two creatively written accounts of Margaret's adventures on the Titanic and after. I literally could not put it down and became engrossed in the story of this courageous and astounding woman. Anyone interested in the lives of women at the turn of the century, and/or in the history of the Denver region should take the time to read this book.

Mrs. J.J. Brown in no way resembles the myths that sprung up around her, and Iversen does a good job of replacing those myths with a real human being. However, I did find myself reading certain parts of the book and asking if she didn't take her debunking a bit too far in the opposite direction. Would a conventional Edwardian society woman jokingly invite her butcher into her bathroom while in the tub? Read carefully, and you will find that Mrs. Brown thoroughly enjoyed mythologizing herself. She was a tale-spinner and public actress as much as she was an altruist and heroine. That is my only caveat about this book. Although accurate, it de-emphasizes her idiosyncrasies and therefore doesn't seem to give a full characterization.

It's a fantastically GOOD book! Well-written and exhaustingly researched! I can't imagine anyone complaining that there's filler in it. Meatloaf? It's unusual to see so much proof for information even in a biography. I am not surprised that her descendants love it.

Iif you thought you knew everything about "the Unsinkable Molly Brown," you really should read Kristen Iversen's throughly researched and very entertaining biography, which reveals the real behind the legendary. It does indeed unravel the thousand and one myths that have grown around Mrs. Brown for many years, from the relatively small (She was never known as "Molly," always by her real name, "Margaret") to the large (Detailing Brown's often overlooked contributions to the suffragette, children's rights, and union movements, and also her run for the Senate). As we follow Margaret on her remarkable journey from her childhood in Hannibal, Missouri to her adult years in Leadville and then Denver, Colorado, to various countries around the world which she traveled to, to the Titanic disaster, in which she helped row her lifeboat and looked after many steerage passengers with no families, to Newport, Rhode Island, where she summered in her later years, we truly get a sense of how much of a remarkable woman Mrs. Brown was, thanks to Mrs. Iversen's affectionate, engrossing book. Filled with many colorful supporting characters (Polly Pry-Denver gossip columnist, Ben Lindsay-controversial juvenile court judge, and Alva Vanderbilt Belmont-Newport suffragette, among others) there's never a dull moment as we read about Mrs. Brown's tireless commitments to her various causes as well as her large heart (Raising her three motherless nieces as her own, never forgetting her family, even always saying hello to the butcher boy) and fashionable outfits, which never failed to attract attention. You won't be sorry if you pick up this book to read!

I bought this book at the Molly Brown House and Museum in Denver, a few weeks ago. I like biographies, autobiographies, and well-written historical fiction about the lives of women, so this one caught my eye. I was not disappointed.

Dr. Iverson brought Margaret (Molly) Brown to life in context with the Victorian Age she part of. I delighted in all the little details of family and friends, fashions, travel, politics, and society that enriched this biography, for none of us exist in a vaccum.

Margaret Tobin Brown, an interesting philanthropist and activist who was way ahead of her time, has at last been given the respect she deserves, rather than trivializing her as merely Molly Brown, the crude, opportunistic, unsinkable wife of Mr. Brown.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book on the "unsinkable" Molly Brown, probably the most famous Titanic survivor. There are so many myths out there about this woman, hopefully this book will help to set the record straight. For one thing, Mrs. Brown was never called "Molly" while she was alive, but "Margaret". She was a very generous, caring and compassionate woman and was definitely ahead of her times. She was independent and was not afraid to stand up for her rights and worked tirelessly toward women's equal rights. She also spent a lot of time, energy and money in helping the not so fortunate people. She was involved in many charities and philanthropic organizations. She even worked toward improving working conditions for miners even though her husband owned mines. She loved to travel and was passionate about learning different languages especially French, as she loved the French culture. Also, it was very interesting to see how the upper class lived, traveled and entertained in the turn of the century in Colorado and Newport, Rhode Island.

The author Kristen Iversen does a splendid job in researching the life of this amazing woman and putting together all the facts without making it boring. A very interesting book on a very interesting lady!

As another reviewer points out, it is good to read a book with the facts on Margaret Tobin Brown. Iversen writes well. There is some academic women's studies-type jargon that doesn't fit in well, and makes me wonder if Iversen felt obligated to put it in.

I would have liked to read more about her time in Leadville and her last years in Europe, both of which are covered pretty sparingly. The Titanic episode seems to be retold about three times, but I guess that's how you sell books.

It is a rare delight to come across a gem such as this book. Iversen has passionately documented the true life story of an American legend with the support of Margaret Brown's family. She has included incredible facts that have never been shared with the public, as well as extremely rare photographs. Iversen discusses Margaret's involvement with the Titanic tragedy in a compelling and detailed manner. She also covers such topics as Margaret's involvement in women's rights and human rights in general.

This is a must read book for Margaret Brown and Titanic enthusiasts of all types!

Kristen Iversen went beyond what must people think they know about Molly Brown. With her book we got to meet the real Margaret Brown. Margaret, Who in a time when women were suppose to stay home, take care of hubby and the kids wanted more out of life and she went for it. Margaret gave and gave and never wanted anything back but respect and she so deserved it. There wasn't anyone or anything she wouldn't help with. I have so much more respect for Margaret Brown. If you want the truth buy this book

I throughly enjoyed this book. I feel that Ms. Iverson did an amazing job in researching her facts, along with Muffet Brown.

In so many biographies, Margaret has been misrepresented and Ms. Iverson and Ms. Muffet Brown presented true facts. Margaret was a very caring person who started relief funds for Titanic servivors as well as being influential in women's rights, including the right to vote. This is only two of many accomplishments that Margaret made.

I live in Denver, Co. where Margaret lived for many years and her house is only 6 blocks from where I live. I feel honored to live in Denver because of Margaret and visit at least twice a year. At Christmas, the house is beautifully decorated.

Margaret's legacy will live on forever!!