Customer Reviews

Rediscovering Nancy Drew

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This is not a book for children, as so many of the books written about Nancy Drew are. It's a series of essays and interviews ranging from how Nancy Drew came to be, to how women have viewed her culturally and historically down through the ages.

Although I haven't read every chapter, the ones I've read so far have been extremely interesting. Here are women--some my age, others older or younger-- all who have had the shared experience of reading Nancy Drew. Some of the essayists are critical of the sterotypes found in many of the original versions, while others view them as a products of their time. But most describe the Nancy Drew mysteries as books that shaped a part of their being. In Nancy we embrace an intelligent, daring, compassionate and independent heroine; one who isn't afraid to speak up for herself and others.

We also learn interesting tidbits such as how the Applewood editions appeared, how Mildred Wirt Benson, a.k.a. Carolyn Keene, struggled with deadlines, how David Farrah came to be the expert on pricing the various editions, how modern mystery writers are indebted to Ms. Benson, and more. I highly recommend this collection of fascinating essays. My only regret is that it isn't longer.