Review: Well written, well researched, a look at an artist's life
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 9, 2013
This is the biography of a woman named Edmonia Lewis, a woman of mixed African and Indian heritage. Edmonia Lewis was a sculptor who was successful in a time when women and minorities were heavily discriminated against. Edmonia Lewis lived in the mid-nineteenth century. During this time, it was incredibly hard for women to be recognized for their achievements. Female artists, in particular, were thought to only be capable of copying other works.Edmonia Lewis challenged this theory and rose against seemingly insurmountable odds in order to do so. She rose above her background as an orphan only to be unfairly kicked out of college as a young woman. Edmonia mostly taught herself the art of sculpting, and was determined to leave her mark despite the society she lived in. She refused to give up her craft for the sake of the elite and their expectations. The Indomitable Spirit tells of how Edmonia made her own path to bring about social change through art.This book is extremely well researched. In addition to telling an incredible story, the author also corrects many myths about the subject. The Indomitable Spirit uses many primary and secondary resources and not only tells the story of a sculptor, but also brings to light what a genuinely interesting and multifaceted person Edmonia Lewis was. The author paints a vivid picture, and while reading this book you will not only get a sense of Edmonia's achievements, but you will also walk away feeling like you got to know her as a person.Although this is a "niche" book, it is also very interesting on it's own. I had not heard of Edmonia Lewis before I read this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. The book is very academic and not at all light reading material, but if you have the time, I would really recommend it. No matter your level of familiarity with the subject, you will find something of interest, and you will definitely not regret learning about this amazing woman.