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Walt Whitman's Mrs. G: A Biography of Anne Gilchrist

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A marvelous book and a great joy to read. One of the very best books in the literature related to Walt Whitman. A biography of one of the most remarkable women of the 19th century, written by a kindred spirit in the 20th.

Marion Alcaro devoted seven adventurous years to finding information about Anne Gilchrist. Several misconceptions about Anne are laid to rest by her vast research and very good sense. She has a perfect sense for the illuminating detail and writes with great wit

This book enables us to understand how a young English widow could fall in love with an American poet just from reading his poems. And how she reacted to meeting him in person, realizing that her romantic ideas had been a fantasy, and yet going on to enjoy what was one of the most satisfying friendships for both of them.

And we come to appreciate Anne in her own right, a woman whom Whitman admired as much as she admired him. This great soul, who communicated so naturally and sincerely, enchanted the luminaries who met her, including Carlyle and Tennyson. She was totally dedicated to her four children. Her daughter Beatrice became one of the rare female physicians of the time. And Anne had to suffer the horrible tragedy of Beatrice's suicide.

A brilliant writer and enthusiastic student of science, Anne Gilchrist was a feminist pioneer, who tried to lead the women of her time to a more meaningful way of living.