From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Walbert—2004 National Book Award nominee for Our Kind—offers a beautiful and kaleidoscopic view of the 20th century through the eyes of several generations of women in the Townsend family. The story begins with Dorothy Townsend, a turn-of-the-century British suffragist who dies in a hunger strike. From Dorothy’s death, Walbert travels back and forth across time and continents to chronicle other acts of self-assertion by Dorothy’s female descendants. Dorothy’s daughter, Evelyn, travels to America after WWI to make her name in the world of science—and escape from her mother’s infamy. Decades later, her niece, also named Dorothy, has a late-life crisis and gets arrested in 2003 for taking photos of an off-limits military base in Delaware. Dorothy’s daughters, meanwhile, struggle to find meaning in their modern bourgeois urban existences. The novel takes in historical events from the social upheaval of pre-WWI Britain to VJ day in N (click here for further information)
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mixed Feelings
Although I did like this book, I have to agree with many other reviewers who said that it becomes tedious as it moves along.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Women Through the Generations
A Short History of Women: A Novel, by Kate Walbert is a story that follows five generations of women, each struggling to find balance in their lives.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not a history, not a novel, exactly, but worth reading
Many reviews of “A Short History of Women” on this site express dissatisfaction with the novel. Some readers are impatient with the way the book, which follows five generations of…
1.0 out of 5 stars
Going Nowhere? Good, neither is this book!
I found this book a full out snooze. It seemed full of promise- several elements I enjoy: historical fiction, several generations of women and their struggles.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting to see the reviews are almost entirely by “Vinistas” Is this good or bad?
I heard of this book on a “high culture” website I read closely. I immediately went to Amazon, ready to purchase it because I love – and I’m blessed – by strong women in my life…
2.0 out of 5 stars
hard to read!
As several reviews have mentioned it is a hard book to read……I never felt like I got to know the characters other a little of Evie who I had a lot of sympathy…
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worthwhile and impressive
A SHORT HISTORY OF WOMEN is a work of amazing imagination, detail and structure.
Author Kate Walbert devised a brilliant concept and executed it beautifully…
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous Writing
I had to weigh in to help out the ratings of this book! True, Walbert is a writer’s writer, but that shouldn’t scare readers away.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to read, hard to understand : PHEW that was a lot of work. My brain hurts.
As others have mentioned, there is a family tree in the beginning of the book. Do yourself a favor and take the book to Kinkos and have them blow up the family tree so you can pin…
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very little middle ground in the reviews.
Before I sat down to write this Vine selection, I went to the other reviews to get an idea about how other readers liked the book.