Blog this item

Dangerous Ambition

Rebecca West and Dorothy Thompson: New Women in Search of Love and Power

By Susan Hertog

(1)

| Others | 9780345459862

Like Dangerous Ambition?
Join aNobii to see if your friends read it, and discover similar books!

Book Description

A dual portrait of the influential British and American journalists draws on previously sealed archival sources to examine their personal and creative lives as well as the close, four-decade friendship they shared.

1 Review

Dangerous Ambition: Rebecca West and Dorothy Thompson New Woen in Search of Love and Power

The author chronicles the two friends whose lives and careers shared so many parallels (traumatic childhood experiences, tumultous relationships with famous men who resented any sharing of acclaim, international success as journalists). The writing style veers into novel territory (..."she slipped t ... (continue)

The author chronicles the two friends whose lives and careers shared so many parallels (traumatic childhood experiences, tumultous relationships with famous men who resented any sharing of acclaim, international success as journalists). The writing style veers into novel territory (..."she slipped the satin dress over her smooth skin....") and not in a good way; these kinds of descriptions trivialize the subject matter. Where was the editor of this manuscript?
Nevertheless, the author presents harsh truths about the realities of career, marriage and family for women; the takeaway seems to be that career women shouldn't marry (or even go steady men), and they should NEVER have children, either in (Dorothy Thompson and Sinclair Lewis) or out (Rebecca West and H. G. Wells) of wedlock. The sons born of these two unions grew up as human tran wrecks, and their mothers never seemed to understand why. The fragmenting of their mothers' attention left the two sons without the nurturing they needed to grow up emotionally healthy.
Readers who believe that women can do and have everything might not find the harsh truths palatable, and the writing style can grate, as mentioned above, but this book offers a look at a subject and era (late 19th-mid 20th century) from a perspective seldom seen. Worthwhile if not essential.

Is this helpful?

Claredeer said on Feb 13, 2012 | Add your feedback