This novel blindsided me with its brilliance. Douglass' Women falls into the "I wish I'd written this" category, which in my selfish little world is the highest honor I can give a work of fiction. Three fascinating, complex, flawed, real-life individuals are brought to life unforgettably.

I could also write an essay about the cover, from how it marginalizes the characters of color to how the dress is the wrong century. But the cover isn't the author's fault. I will definitely be seeking out more titles by Jewel Parker Rhodes. ( )

Nepārprotami feministisks romāns, kas apzinīgi atklāj afroamerikāņu ikonas tumšo un ne pārāk pievilcīgo pusi. Tiesa, kā jau šādos gadījumos nereti mēdz būt, gribētos, lai tiktu dots vārds arī pašam antivaronim - lai nu paskaidro, kāpēc rīkojas tik nesmuki ( )

If you enjoy hating characters, this may be the book for you.
The story of Anna Douglass, the wife of Frederick Douglass, the abolitionsit and the story of one of his mistresses, Ottilie Assing.
I liked Anna. I disliked Ottilie, and I despised Douglass. He was portrayed as a self-centered (insert bad word), that was hungry for attention and made speeches to spread the word of what happens to slaves. It became more about him, than the cause.

If this was the goal of the author she did a phenominal job and I need to change the rating.
( )

This was an amazing book and a fascinating fictional account of the women behind Frederick Douglass. The character development was excellent and it was easy to imagine it was all true. It was also hard to take sides as each of the three main characters, Douglass, his mistress and his wife, were so easy to understand. I loved how she wrote from each persons perspective, changing her voice as it happened. ( )