Ruth was four years old when her father was arrested for high treason and her world was turned upside-down. She grew up in constant fear of Special Branch policemen knocking on the door to arrest her mother or father, prominent South African communists. Ruth learned how to keep her mouth shut, to look out for microphones in the walls and to beware of friends who could betray her trust. At fourteen, Ruth left South Africa, clutching her teddy bear in one hand and her drawings in the other. A plan to England carried her into exile, a new world where she struggled to reconstruct a life fractured by fear. With an artist’s eye for detail and colour, Ruth recalls her life with unflinching honesty: the Treason Trial; her struggle to conform; Friern Barnet Asylum for the ‘hopeless insane’; LSD, protests, and free love in London, art school and motherhood; communes and camping - all steps in a journey that finally brought her home to South Africa on the brink of change. Heart- wrenchingly sad one minute, bursting with life and vigour the next, seamed throughout by strength and courage, girl on the edge allows us to look deep into one woman’s life and travel with her to the brink and back again.
Girl on the Edge is the incredible memoir of Kim Hodges, detailing her adolescent experiences growing up in a small rural town of NSW. Her mistreatment and tumultuous upbringing has niggled away in the back of her mind since she was seven years of age. Now a family woman with three children of her own, Kim has found the courage and discipline to work her story into words. Written through a child’s sensitive lens with reflections that could only be surmised and truly understood as an adult, Girl on the Edge explores identity, belonging, and alienation, as well as class, gender and power. Set in the landscape of the small NSW country town of Coolah, Kim’s coming of age story is far from quaint. Using her wry humour to offset the confronting content, Girl on the Edge is truly an arresting memoir.
‘I had a slight inkling that things were not quite right. I, too, had felt a slender change in me. It was a feeling. I could neither touch nor see it – so how could it be real? I was out of kilter, out of sync.’ When Kim Hodges’ psychologist suggests she has depression, she immediately recoils from the idea. She is a mother, a wife, an academic – a functional human being! But it is the only diagnosis that explains the days she can barely lift her heavy limbs out of bed, the sick feeling that moves its way across her body and brain, the isolation, alcohol use, the colour that evaporated and left her world grey. What follows is a five-year journey that involves six lengthy hospital stays, multiple trips to the Emergency Department, innumerable engagements with health professionals, and eventually, the ability for Kim to overcome the denial, shame and stigma she feels about mental illness to begin her road to recovery. Raw, honest and confronting, Girl Over the Edge strips bare the range of human emotions, struggles and treatment options associated with mental illness, and delivers an overall message of hope and positivity.
Clinical psychologist and clergywoman Lucille F. Sider adds her voice to the chorus of women in the #WhyIDidntReport and #MeToo movements. This is Lucille’s story of resilience and hope as a survivor of sexual abuse. She explains the challenges of finding her way out of a fear-based spirituality into one that is full of grace, hope and forgiveness. The unique richness of her book is that she wrote it to spark healing discussion. As she describes her experiences in these pages, she also steps back and offers helpful analysis as both a psychologist and a clergywoman. At the end of the book, she includes a complete study guide with questions for reflection for individuals, small groups and classes. “The book is arranged to be a valuable tool in the hands of persons in the helping professions, such as clergy, social workers, psychologists,” writes the Rev. Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent Emerita and Ambassador of The Wesleyan Church. “This writing is so powerful, yet gentle, that people will be able to add their own words to combat the pain. Lucille’s credentials enhance the power of the story. Truly a book for these days!” Lucille was just 6 years old when she was abused both physically and sexually by a hired man on the family’s farm. Lucille’s inner conflict about these experiences, propelled her into a childhood of guilt and shame. While Lucille was an outstanding student, singer and athlete, she lived with an underlying fear, loneliness and mild depression. A second sexual abuse by her brother-in-law, when she was just 15 years old, added to Lucille’s fears. When she tried to tell her parents about this, their response was only to pray for her—so, she kept these painful events secret for years. Many years later, her brother in law was arrested for molesting a 15-year-old girl. Lucille and others, including his own daughter, testified against him and he was incarcerated. Raised in a conservative household and faith, Lucille went to college and seminary to search for a theology that was full of grace and forgiveness. She found this especially at Yale Divinity School, though she always lived with a mild depression. Her struggle to understand both her faith and psyche led her to earn a PhD from Northwestern University in psychology and religion. She became a clinical psychologist and pastoral counselor and later the Executive Director of The Samaritan Pastoral Counseling Center in Evanston, Illinois. At age 50, when her husband suddenly divorced her, Lucille was cast into darkness and despair which resulted in major depression. Lucille became dysfunctional and had to step down as Executive Director of her counseling center. Years of therapy led her to new ways of offering and sharing her gifts, which included writing stories and ministering to seniors, especially those suffering from dementia. In Light Shines in the Darkness, Lucille F. Sider shares her unique story of sexual abuse and severe mental illness, including depression and PTSD. She describes her legal battle in fighting for justice and her ongoing persistence in finding ways to remain stable. She calls these her mental health and spiritual practices and they include: counseling, medication, meditation, healthy diet, exercise, daily prayer and church attendance. In sharing her story, Lucille now is helping others along their journeys from sexual abuse to stability—to find their own hope and their own light that shines through the darkness. “Timely, compelling and courageous, this autobiography lays bare the trauma of both child and adolescent abuse,” writes Carol Schreck, Professor Emerita of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Palmer Theological Seminary. “This book deserves to be read by any adult who, living in a culture where 80 percent of females have experienced some form of sexual abuse by the age of 18, are no longer content to keep their proverbial head in the sand.”
"One of the 25 Greatest Rock Memoirs of All Time” --Rolling Stone Magazine (#8) “Sensitive and emotionally raw… it’s also wildly funny”--The New York Times Book Review A powerfully original memoir of pregnancy and mental illness by the legendary founder of the seminal rock band Throwing Muses, 'a magnificently charged union of Sylvia Plath and Patti Smith' - The Guardian Kristin Hersh was a preternaturally bright teenager, starting college at fifteen and with her band, Throwing Muses, playing rock clubs she was too young to frequent. By the age of seventeen she was living in her car, unable to sleep for the torment of strange songs swimming around her head - the songs for which she is now known. But just as her band was taking off, Hersh was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Rat Girl chronicles the unraveling of a young woman's personality, culminating in a suicide attempt; and then her arduous yet inspiring recovery, her unplanned pregnancy at the age of 19, and the birth of her first son. Playful, vivid, and wonderfully warm, this is a visceral and brave memoir by a truly original performer, told in a truly original voice.
e-artnow presents to you the world's iconic women characters in fiction and the real-life heroines in this power-packed meticulously edited and formatted collection:_x000D_ Fiction:_x000D_ Camilla (Fanny Burney)_x000D_ Maria; Or, The Wrongs of Woman (Mary Wollstonecraft)_x000D_ Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)_x000D_ Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë)_x000D_ The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne)_x000D_ Lady Macbeth of the Mzinsk District (Nikolai Leskov)_x000D_ Hester (Margaret Oliphant)_x000D_ Life in the Iron Mills (Rebecca Davis)_x000D_ Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)_x000D_ The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James)_x000D_ Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy)_x000D_ Tess of the d'Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy)_x000D_ Wives and Daughter (Elizabeth Gaskell)_x000D_ The Yellow Wallpaper (Charlotte Perkins Gilman)_x000D_ A Doll's House (Henrik Ibsen)_x000D_ The Awakening (Kate Chopin)_x000D_ The Woman Who Did (Grant Allen)_x000D_ Miss Cayley's Adventures (Grant Allen)_x000D_ The Story of a Baby (Ethel Sybil Turner)_x000D_ New Amazonia (Elizabeth Corbett)_x000D_ A Daughter of the Land (Gene Stratton-Porter)_x000D_ The Iron Woman (Margaret Deland)_x000D_ My Ántonia (Willa Cather)_x000D_ The Song of the Lark (Willa Cather)_x000D_ The House of Mirth (Edith Wharton)_x000D_ Sister Carrie (Theodore Dreiser)_x000D_ Sisters (Ada Cambridge)_x000D_ Hagar (Mary Johnston)_x000D_ Samantha on the Woman Question (Marietta Holley)_x000D_ The Precipice (Elia Wilkinson Peattie)_x000D_ Voyage Out (Virginia Woolf)_x000D_ Parnassus on Wheels (Christopher Morley)_x000D_ The Job (Sinclair Lewis)_x000D_ Miss Lulu Bett (Zona Gale)_x000D_ The Rainbow (D. H. Lawrence)_x000D_ The Enchanted April (Elizabeth von Arnim)_x000D_ Fanny Herself (Edna Ferber)_x000D_ So Big (Edna Ferber)..._x000D_ Memoirs:_x000D_ Madame Vigée Lebrun _x000D_ Jane Austen _x000D_ Caroline Herschel _x000D_ Mrs. Seacole _x000D_ Elizabeth Cady Stanton_x000D_ My Own Story (Emmeline Pankhurst)_x000D_ Mother Jones_x000D_ Margaret Sanger_x000D_ Helen Keller_x000D_ Biographies:_x000D_ Lucretia_x000D_ Sappho_x000D_ Aspasia of Cyrus_x000D_ Portia_x000D_ Octavia_x000D_ Cleopatra_x000D_ Mariamne_x000D_ Julia Domna_x000D_ Zenobia_x000D_ Valeria_x000D_ Hypatia_x000D_ The Lady Rowena_x000D_ Roswitha the Nun_x000D_ Marie de France_x000D_ Laura de Sade_x000D_ Joan of Arc _x000D_ Catharine of Arragon_x000D_ Anne Boleyn_x000D_ Margaret Roper_x000D_ Mary, Queen of Scots_x000D_ The Pocahontas _x000D_ Queen Anne_x000D_ Maria Theresa_x000D_ Marie Antoinette_x000D_ Florence Nightingale _x000D_ Maria Mitchell _x000D_ Harriet Tubman_x000D_ Madame de Stael…
The Most Influential Women in History: Over 100 Memoirs & Biographies is a tour de force collection that presents a panoramic view of the diverse literary styles and profound themes represented in the life stories of women who have shaped history. An impressive array of narratives, from fiery speeches to reflective memoirs, underscores the significance of these womens contributions across varied fields. Central to the anthology is its ability to shine a spotlight on the interconnectedness of their experiences while celebrating their unique voices, thereby offering readers an unparalleled insight into the fabric of womens history. The inclusion of standout pieces on suffrage, labor rights, and educational reform highlights pivotal moments in societal transformations through the lens of personal struggle and achievement. The contributing authors, including influential figures such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Helen Keller, bring to this compilation rich backgrounds of advocacy, innovation, and leadership. Rooted in seminal historical and cultural movements, from the suffragette campaigns to the birth of the labor and civil rights movements, these narratives collectively map a trajectory of progressive change spearheaded by women. The anthology is not just a collection of personal stories but a confluence of powerful voices that echo major shifts in the social, political, and cultural landscapes across centuries. This anthology is recommended for anyone interested in exploring the profound impact of women on global history through a mosaic of perspectives. The Most Influential Women in History beckons readers to immerse themselves in the variety of experiences, challenges, and victories documented in these pages. It offers not just educational value but an inspirational journey, celebrating the relentless spirit of women who have paved the way for future generations. For scholars, students, and general readers alike, this collection promises a rich dialogue between the past and present, fostering a deeper appreciation for the indelible marks these women have left on the world.
This meticulously edited collection presents the most prominent figures of the Women's suffrage movement in the United States of America and the United Kingdom: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Emmeline Pankhurst, Anna Howard Shaw, Millicent Garrett Fawcett, Jane Addams, Lucy Stone, Carrie Chapman Catt, Alice Paul. This edition includes as well the complete 6 volume history of the movement - from its beginnings through the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which enfranchised women in the U.S. in 1920. Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was an American suffragist, social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early women's rights movement. Susan Brownell Anthony (1820-1906) was an American social reformer and women's rights activist who played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement. Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928) was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote. Anna Howard Shaw (1847-1919) was a leader of the women's suffrage movement in the United States. She was also a physician and one of the first ordained female Methodist ministers in the United States. Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett (1847-1929) was a British feminist, intellectual, political and union leader, and writer. Jane Addams (1860-1935), known as the "mother" of social work, was a pioneer American settlement activist, public philosopher, sociologist, protestor, author, and leader in women's suffrage and world peace. Lucy Stone (1818-1893) was a prominent U.S. orator, abolitionist, and suffragist, and a vocal advocate and organizer promoting rights for women. Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947) was an American women's suffrage leader who campaigned for the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gave U.S. women the right to vote in 1920. Alice Stokes Paul (1885-1977) was an American suffragist, feminist, and women's rights activist.
This meticulously edited collection presents the most prominent figures of the Women's suffrage movement in the United States of America and the United Kingdom: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Emmeline Pankhurst, Anna Howard Shaw, Millicent Garrett Fawcett, Jane Addams, Lucy Stone, Carrie Chapman Catt, Alice Paul. This edition includes as well the complete 6 volume history of the movement - from its beginnings through the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which enfranchised women in the U.S. in 1920. Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was an American suffragist, social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early women's rights movement. Susan Brownell Anthony (1820-1906) was an American social reformer and women's rights activist who played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement. Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928) was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote. Anna Howard Shaw (1847-1919) was a leader of the women's suffrage movement in the United States. She was also a physician and one of the first ordained female Methodist ministers in the United States. Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett (1847-1929) was a British feminist, intellectual, political and union leader, and writer. Jane Addams (1860-1935), known as the "mother" of social work, was a pioneer American settlement activist, public philosopher, sociologist, protestor, author, and leader in women's suffrage and world peace. Lucy Stone (1818-1893) was a prominent U.S. orator, abolitionist, and suffragist, and a vocal advocate and organizer promoting rights for women. Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947) was an American women's suffrage leader who campaigned for the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gave U.S. women the right to vote in 1920. Alice Stokes Paul (1885-1977) was an American suffragist, feminist, and women's rights activist.
