Glory, Passion, and Principle: The Story of Eight Remarkable Women at the Core of the American Revolution
Debut author Bohrer, appalled by her lack of knowledge about women's contributions to the American Revolution ("I offered Betsy Ross as the woman who sewed our flag, but after that my mind drew a blank"), decided to write a book on the subject. The result includes well-known figures like Abigail Adams and Molly Pitcher alongside some less familiar women, like Deborah Sampson, a teenager who disguised herself as a man in order to serve in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army, and Lydia Darragh, a Philadelphia Quaker who acted as a spy for George Washington's army. Bohrer is careful to portray a culturally diverse group of women, including Phillis Wheatley, a slave who became a respected African-American poet, and Nancy Ward, a Cherokee leader who went to great lengths to create peace between white settlers and Native Americans. These latter two women's stories don't have a direct bearing on the American Revolution, but they offer a valuable perspective on the efforts and achievements of some minority women during that era. Each chapter is written in a light and energetic style, often dropping the reader directly into the action; for that reason, the book would be especially appropriate for young adults. Serious historians will find little that is new or noteworthy in this collection. B&w; illus. not seen by PW.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.