When you’re shaking up the world, you need a tribe. These women were shaking the world about 50 years before my adolescence—not so long, really—and I had never heard of them. Some of their names and deeds are still new.
Agreed, Rona! I hadn't heard of many of them before either, but their actions really did make a difference. The idea of a club can suggest exclusivity and privilege, but for these women it was about being there to support each other and also to speak their minds.
Thank you for reposting this, Ann. Like Hilary, I read the Millay series in the New York Times, and realized how little I know about her life and her work. I didn’t know about the shameful delay in passing the Emmett Till law, or its origins. I appreciate how much you’ve given me here, sending me in the right direction.
So pleased you liked it, Mary, there isn't enough time to read every good book out there so it's nice to share a review occasionally! And like you, I was so impressed by the courage and persistence it took to get the Emmet Till law passed, and glad to find out more about Grace Nail Johnson too.
The story about Edna St Vincent Millay and her sister reminded me that recently the New York Times featured one of her poems, Recuerdo, in a week-long series that scaffolded the memorising of this intriguing poem.
Thanks Hilary, and apologies for the fruity language (they were trying out new forms)! How interesting that the NYT featured 'Recuerdo', and I've just read a lovely piece on her by upcoming Irish poet, Declan Ryan (I know him a little from my TLS reviewing days):
Loved this post. Two eye-opening books that I've loved, about groups of women, are ones you almost certainly know, Ann: A Passionate Sisterhood by Kathleen Jones, about the women in the lives of the Lake Poets, and A Circle of Sisters by Judith Flanders, about the four sisters who married a group of friends, having been introduced by their brother - among them Alice Kipling and Georgiana Burne-Jones. Remarkable stories.
Many thanks Barbara, and it's very good to be reminded of those books as I had forgotten all about them! I do love Judith Flanders's book on the Victorian House, so it will be great to read her take on those sisters (and another form of sisterhood via Kathleen Jones).
What I'm reading now... The Eights by Joanna Miller. (P.S. I loved Daisy Hay's biography of Joseph Johnson. I'm so glad people like her (and you) keep inserting important figures from the past into modern consciousness. Thank you!
Thank you, Nancy, that's very kind of you! I keep hearing good things about The Eights so I must read it. Glad to hear you're a fan of Daisy Hay's work too – her Mr and Mrs Disraeli was a big influence on me.
Thank you for sharing this – I really enjoyed Scutts' The Extra Woman and wanted to read this too, so this is a prompt to get around to it!
I'm currently reading Francesca Wade's Gertrude Stein book, which I'm enjoying hugely. Some overlap of characters with this book, too (further justification for me to buy Hotbed!)
My pleasure, Frances! I'm looking forward to reading Wade's new book, what a fascinating subject and she's such a good biographer. How interesting that some of the characters overlap, I guess wider networks (even cross-Atlantic ones) were pretty important for these activist women.
Reading ..(or rather rereading but after 30 years ) Trollope's The Way We Live Now. I'm writing a piece about it so won't say more here. But it's a 10/10 recommend. Not easy to get hold of though.
That sounds like a fascinating project, Susan. I see that Timothy West has narrated the audiobook version - 32 hours long, but I might try that and schedule some long walks.
I’ll definitely be reading this book, Ann, so thank you. I’m currently reading The Club - Where American Women Artists found Refuge in Belle Epoque Paris by Jennifer Dasal. It comes out next month.
I’m struck by how the club’s refusal to formalize itself became its strength, allowing space for dissent and evolution. Yet, as you astutely note, inclusivity had its limits, and the tensions surrounding race, class, and war illuminate just how contested the idea of solidarity has always been. Scutts seems to capture the combustible mix of idealism and pragmatism that powered these women’s work, and your reflections make me eager to read the book.
That's a really good way of putting it, Jonathan, and your description 'the combustible mix of idealism and pragmatism' seems particularly apt. So many idealistic groups ended up breaking apart, but the members still gained a lot from their common bond as they started out on their different paths. Speaking out was so important to have influence as a woman, even if you also had to show up on a white horse occasionally!
That shot away in media res. Frances’s post about Gertrude Stein brought to mind one of my favourite recipe books, for fascinating reading rather than cooking: The Alice B Toklas Cook Book. But the recipes are fun to try as well. Thanks, Ann, for the most enjoyable Hotbed post. I have requested that my local library acquire it.
Haha, glad you extended your comment! Appropriately enough, Faber publishers are running a special dinner & literary event at the Toklas restaurant in London to celebrate both Wade's book and Alice's cooking. It sounds intriguing and I would love to go... and so pleased you've requested Hotbed for your library, I think it's great.
When you’re shaking up the world, you need a tribe. These women were shaking the world about 50 years before my adolescence—not so long, really—and I had never heard of them. Some of their names and deeds are still new.
Agreed, Rona! I hadn't heard of many of them before either, but their actions really did make a difference. The idea of a club can suggest exclusivity and privilege, but for these women it was about being there to support each other and also to speak their minds.
Thank you for reposting this, Ann. Like Hilary, I read the Millay series in the New York Times, and realized how little I know about her life and her work. I didn’t know about the shameful delay in passing the Emmett Till law, or its origins. I appreciate how much you’ve given me here, sending me in the right direction.
So pleased you liked it, Mary, there isn't enough time to read every good book out there so it's nice to share a review occasionally! And like you, I was so impressed by the courage and persistence it took to get the Emmet Till law passed, and glad to find out more about Grace Nail Johnson too.
The story about Edna St Vincent Millay and her sister reminded me that recently the New York Times featured one of her poems, Recuerdo, in a week-long series that scaffolded the memorising of this intriguing poem.
Thanks Hilary, and apologies for the fruity language (they were trying out new forms)! How interesting that the NYT featured 'Recuerdo', and I've just read a lovely piece on her by upcoming Irish poet, Declan Ryan (I know him a little from my TLS reviewing days):
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/157426/sound-of-the-axe-on-fresh-wood
Loved this post. Two eye-opening books that I've loved, about groups of women, are ones you almost certainly know, Ann: A Passionate Sisterhood by Kathleen Jones, about the women in the lives of the Lake Poets, and A Circle of Sisters by Judith Flanders, about the four sisters who married a group of friends, having been introduced by their brother - among them Alice Kipling and Georgiana Burne-Jones. Remarkable stories.
Many thanks Barbara, and it's very good to be reminded of those books as I had forgotten all about them! I do love Judith Flanders's book on the Victorian House, so it will be great to read her take on those sisters (and another form of sisterhood via Kathleen Jones).
What I'm reading now... The Eights by Joanna Miller. (P.S. I loved Daisy Hay's biography of Joseph Johnson. I'm so glad people like her (and you) keep inserting important figures from the past into modern consciousness. Thank you!
Thank you, Nancy, that's very kind of you! I keep hearing good things about The Eights so I must read it. Glad to hear you're a fan of Daisy Hay's work too – her Mr and Mrs Disraeli was a big influence on me.
Thank you for sharing this – I really enjoyed Scutts' The Extra Woman and wanted to read this too, so this is a prompt to get around to it!
I'm currently reading Francesca Wade's Gertrude Stein book, which I'm enjoying hugely. Some overlap of characters with this book, too (further justification for me to buy Hotbed!)
My pleasure, Frances! I'm looking forward to reading Wade's new book, what a fascinating subject and she's such a good biographer. How interesting that some of the characters overlap, I guess wider networks (even cross-Atlantic ones) were pretty important for these activist women.
Thanks Ann, seems -sadly- quite well chosen to remind of this side of the US
Yes, this book came back into my mind for a reason I think! Thank you, Anders. Important to remember how others overcame past challenges.
Reading ..(or rather rereading but after 30 years ) Trollope's The Way We Live Now. I'm writing a piece about it so won't say more here. But it's a 10/10 recommend. Not easy to get hold of though.
That sounds like a fascinating project, Susan. I see that Timothy West has narrated the audiobook version - 32 hours long, but I might try that and schedule some long walks.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5231/5231-h/5231-h.htm
Thank you Janet, good to see that.
Thanks so much for such an informative and interesting read. Very much enjoying the thought of a glamorous gown on a picket line.
Yes, I really must upgrade my wardrobe! Inez Holden had a lot of style as well as commitment & courage.
I’ll definitely be reading this book, Ann, so thank you. I’m currently reading The Club - Where American Women Artists found Refuge in Belle Epoque Paris by Jennifer Dasal. It comes out next month.
That sounds a really interesting book Kate, I'll look out for it. Will you be writing about it on your Substack?
Reviewing it for the Historical Novel Society magazine. We mainly do novels but sometimes slip in some non-fiction titles here and there.
I’m struck by how the club’s refusal to formalize itself became its strength, allowing space for dissent and evolution. Yet, as you astutely note, inclusivity had its limits, and the tensions surrounding race, class, and war illuminate just how contested the idea of solidarity has always been. Scutts seems to capture the combustible mix of idealism and pragmatism that powered these women’s work, and your reflections make me eager to read the book.
That's a really good way of putting it, Jonathan, and your description 'the combustible mix of idealism and pragmatism' seems particularly apt. So many idealistic groups ended up breaking apart, but the members still gained a lot from their common bond as they started out on their different paths. Speaking out was so important to have influence as a woman, even if you also had to show up on a white horse occasionally!
That shot away in media res. Frances’s post about Gertrude Stein brought to mind one of my favourite recipe books, for fascinating reading rather than cooking: The Alice B Toklas Cook Book. But the recipes are fun to try as well. Thanks, Ann, for the most enjoyable Hotbed post. I have requested that my local library acquire it.
Haha, glad you extended your comment! Appropriately enough, Faber publishers are running a special dinner & literary event at the Toklas restaurant in London to celebrate both Wade's book and Alice's cooking. It sounds intriguing and I would love to go... and so pleased you've requested Hotbed for your library, I think it's great.
The Heterodites are new to me, and now I want to read everything I can lay my hands on about them. Thank you for this introduction!
This book sounds fascinating Ann. Great review. How long did the organization last?