Synopses & Reviews
Brenda Ueland, well-known for her colorful autobiography Me, turns her attention to the life of her mother Clara, a central figure in the efforts of women to gain the right to vote. Clara was also deeply involved in the civic life of Minneapolis during the early decades of the twentieth century, while raising eight children in an open and progressive atmosphere. We follow the upbringing of Clara's children from their earliest clever remarks through adolescent awkwardness and on into adulthood. Clara and her husband Andreas were largely successful at combining serious political commitment with devotion to family life. The inclusion of letters from every member of the family allows us to witness critical events from several points of view, and the warmth and lilt of Ueland's inimitable style ensures that the era comes to life. Throughout the course of the narrative we feel an often unspoken striving toward the beautiful, noble, and unusual aspects of daily life. Clara instilled these values in her children; Brenda describes how they were nurtured within the family, while exhibiting them herself in her own fond reminiscence of the period.
Synopsis
Brenda Ueland tells the story of her mother, Clara, who was deeply involved in the civic life of the Twin Cities and in the efforts of women to gain the right to vote. The book exudes the charm of an earlier time, when people rode carriages downtown.