From Plymouth To Parliament: A Rhetorical History of Nancy Astor's 1919 Campaign [Hardcover]

Karen J. Musolf (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0312213646 | ISBN-13: 978-0312213640 | Publication Date: December 15, 1998

Nancy Astor, the first woman to take a seat in the British House of Commons, has been a fascinating subject for most of the twentieth century. Recognized for her efforts on behalf of women, remembered for her witty exchanges with Winston Churchill, and criticized for Fascist leanings, she was also a campaigner par excellence--winning seven consecutive elections in twenty-five years. Offering insights from a rhetorical perspective, From Plymouth to Parliament is the first in-depth exploration of Astor’s initial parliamentary campaign in 1919. Karen Musolf reveals how Astor surmounted obstacles in creating an acceptable persona, gathering women voters, confronting opponents, chastising hecklers, and coping with an unruly press, no small obstacles for an American divorcée who married into the prominent Astor family. Musolf draws upon primary sources from the Astor archives and focuses on the dynamic interplay of voices heard throughout the campaign. From Plymouth to Parliament is a highly readable, engaging work that tells the story of the pathbreaking campaign that launched the career of one of the most popular politicians of our century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Despite the historical and parliamentary importance of Astor's life, her political biography has never been written. In the light of this neglect, Karen J. Musolf's contribution to revealing the significance of Astor's political work is most welcome." --American Historical Review

About the Author

Karen J. Musolf is an independent scholar living in Breckenridge, Colorado. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and Macalester College, and studied in England as a Fulbright scholar.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 258 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (December 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312213646
• ISBN-13: 978-0312213640
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,905,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The election to Parliament of Lady Astor in 1919., July 17, 2004

By 

Kevin M Quigg (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: From Plymouth To Parliament: A Rhetorical History of Nancy Astor's 1919 Campaign (Hardcover)

Anyone knowing the history of Winston Churchill visualizes the confrontations he had with Lady Astor. The author includes one in her book about poison. Another one has Winston being drunk, and Lady Astor confronting him and he responding Yes I am drunk, but tomorrow I shall be sober and you shall still be ugly. I wanted to know a little more about Lady Astor and this book gave me a brief insight into her. It was an average read, and I commend the author on writing something original. In this age where we have three or four books coming out about Benjamin Franklin, it is refreshing to have a book about an original subject like the 1919 election of Lady Astor.
This book is dry in places because the author focuses on the use of language in the election of Lady Astor. It is rather a short book, so she should have just concentrated on the election and detailed more of the aftermath of the election and the rise of Nancy Astor. Again, the author has done a good job of detailing the rise of this remarkable woman.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine read, with a worthy conclusion., September 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: From Plymouth To Parliament: A Rhetorical History of Nancy Astor's 1919 Campaign (Hardcover)

Reads like a good novel, but is flush with enough references and footnotes to make even the snobbiest of academics smile. A fascinating women, as told by another great woman--my mom.