"Hayes tells [Susie Marshall Sharp's] story beautifully."
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The Cullman Tribune"A compelling life story that provides a wonderfully intimate view of an important judge. . . . Hayes deserves a lot of credit for a unique approach and diligent research."
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North Carolina Historical Review"Presents Sharp's career as an attorney, judge and politician within the context of the social mores, the legal profession and political battles of her day, and illuminates it with a revealing examination of Sharp's family background, personality and rich private life."
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Carolina Country"Hayes tells [Sharp's] story beautifully."
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Greene County Independent"Hayes tells [Susie Marshall Sharp's] story beautifully."
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The Cullman Tribune"[Stories] that show the positive contributions of Sharp to her state and her family, are now recounted vividly by Hayes."
-- D.G. Martin, syndicated columnist
"An objective portrait of a complicated woman. . . . The author shares many of her subject's best traits and experiences. . . . Hayes brings a feel of law offices, courtrooms and judicial politics to her story. . . . A powerful example of how to tell the story of an important person."
-- D.G. Martin,
The Charlotte Observer"[Hayes] holds little back, but does not sensationalize the more startling facets of Sharp's life. . . . Hayes captures a woman who made numerous sacrifices for her career and enjoyed numerous successes."
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Salisbury Post"More than the stars aligned--more like constellations--for the fascinating and definitive biography of the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of a state Supreme Court to be written."
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Metro Magazine"
Without Precedent may not be the book that Anna Hayes expected to write about Susie Marshall Sharp. It is, however, a meticulously researched, beautifully written, and courageous biography of one of the most respected and influential American women of the twentieth century."
-- E. Garrett Walker, Clerk to Chief Justice Susie Sharp, Supreme Court of North Carolina, fall 1975 to spring 1976
"It is the complexity of the portrait that makes Hayes' biography fascinating to those who thought they already knew Susie Sharp."
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Carolina Alumni Review"An engaging book. . . . Author Anna Hayes is both a historian and a lawyer, which is a winning combination in chronicling the life of one of the most outstanding jurists North Carolina has ever produced."
-- Charles Blackburn Jr.,
Our State"Glowing praise may not sufficiently describe the merit of this book and the high standard it sets as an example of how to tell the story of an important person."
-- D.G Martin, Raleigh
News & Observer"[An] outstanding and revealing biography. . . . A fascinating account of Sharp's extraordinary professional life. . . . A compelling read, and one that makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of North Carolina in the 20th century and the woman who changed our judiciary forever."
-- Jack Betts,
Charlotte Observer"[Anna R. Hayes'] discovery of documents that unveil the most private dimensions of the life of this very public figure is every biographer's dream."
-- Jane Sherron De Hart, co-author of
Sex, Gender, and the Politics of ERA and author of
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Before the Bench
