Griffith, attended violent and controversial meetings of the IWW, and went into hiding at the advent of McCarthyism. In her later years, Queen received many freethought awards, remained active in the American Civil Liberties Union, and campaigned hard for public libraries. McElroy tells a complete story by profiling Queen's mother, lecturer and feminist writer Grace Vern Silver, whose struggles for justice in the IWW found her running for Congress, and whose personal education motivated her to inspire the genius in her daughter.
Hardcover , pages. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Queen Silver , please sign up. Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Mar 18, Evan rated it really liked it Shelves: Queen Silver was a fascinating character, a phenomenon really, of those wild and wacky s. She was a little girl, a prodigy, who at age 10 challenged the anti-evolutionist William Jennings Bryan to a debate. He declined, because Silver was sort of a little genius and could not be out-argued.
She wrote a widely read paper explaining Einstein's Theory of Relativity before Einstein had even published it. And, it seems, she more or less got it right.
She was brought up by a radically progressive Queen Silver was a fascinating character, a phenomenon really, of those wild and wacky s. She was brought up by a radically progressive mother, Grace, a firebrand and intellect in her own right. Silver was known as "The Godless Girl," and despite her atheism was hailed and admired even by religionists for her quick wit, logical thinking, ability to speak on her feet and to deliver inspiring soapbox lectures. She was a celebrity in a time when the anti-religion Freethought movement actually had those, and in a sense was almost like the Oprah of her day, in that she had her own magazine devoted to her doings and writings.
I've just started this, and, as one might expect, Grace and Queen were sired of strict conservative religious roots, and endured horrendous poverty and abuse, and often bad luck and threats. One of Queen's eyes was severely damaged by an errant cigarette that landed on her as she was being walked in a stroller. The KKK and other intolerant types threatened the mom and daughter for their socialist and godless views.
One can debate the merits and demerits of the way Grace raised Queen, trotting her around like a stage mother or an organ-grinder with a performing monkey, and keeping her away from childish things. Queen herself railed against the waste of young minds during the formative years when the human brain is most capable of absorbing vast amounts of information. Little is known about the man who sired Queen with Grace, the latter being a freelover. As of this writing, I'm only on page 65, but it's a fairly quick read despite numerous insertions of letters and newspaper clippings set in small type.
I commend the writer, an atheist who actually knew Queen well in her old age she died in her 90s just a few years ago , for getting this story of a neglected part of American history into print, though the writing itself is a tad dry and lacking flair.
But I read on because this subject fascinates me. The book will be of interest equally to aficionados of women's studies as well as of progressive freethought and ideas in the early 20th century. McElroy claims that Silver was used as model for the title character of Cecil B.
DeMille's silent film, "The Godless Girl. DeMille's Hollywood," the film's plot seems to bear no relation to the story of Queen Silver. Like many prodigies, Queen eventually melded into quiet obscurity and civil servitude, nobody having any idea of her illustrious past, which was just fine given she had to live through the McCarthy era.
But in her last years she again reemerged to play a role in freethought and leftish causes. In her later years, Queen received many freethought awards, remained active in the American Civil Liberties Union, and campaigned hard for public libraries. McElroy tells a complete story by profiling Queen's mother, lecturer and feminist writer Grace Vern Silver, whose struggles for justice in the IWW found her running for Congress, and whose personal education motivated her to inspire the genius in her daughter.
Read more Read less. Review "McElroy brings both fondness and frankness to Silver's work Prometheus Books; 1st edition Language: Related Video Shorts 0 Upload your video.
Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review.
bahana-line.com: Queen Silver: The Godless Girl (Women's Studies (Amherst, N.Y.) (): Wendy Mcelroy, Queen Silver: Books. Queen Silver: The Godless Girl (Women's Studies (Amherst, N.Y.) 1st edition by Mcelroy, Wendy, Silver, Queen () Hardcover on bahana-line.com *FREE*.
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. I never heard of this person or her mother - and I can't figure why that is. Much of this was going on in my youth 's. This is a fascinating story, and should be covered in grammar school or high school. One person found this helpful. Very interesting biography about an brilliant young lady who was very much ahead of her time! She was a brilliant child lecturer, an incorrigible brat, a devoted freethinker, and a lifelong feminist.
Queen Silver is one of those people that should be presented in any high school civics class if such things still exist. McElroy has given readers a book that can be appreciated on different levels.
It can be read as a straightforward biography, detailing not only Queen's life but that of her mother, Grace Vaughn Silver, socialist lecturer and union advocate, who was the dominant figure in Queen's life. At 17, Grace left an abusive home with 5. Ten days after giving birth to Queen, the pair resumed the lecture circut and Queen's life of freethought and self-education began.
I stumbled upon Playster 2 months ago. I've upgraded to a premium membership already. The platform now carries audiobooks from: HarperCollins US titles are already in the library. Just click on the download, read now or start a free trial buttons and create an account.
It only takes 5 minutes to start your one month trial, and after you can download not just this eBook but many others ;. Apr 01 Status: Register a free 1 month Trial Account. Download as many books as you like Personal use 3. Cancel the membership at any time if not satisfied. Lisa Doran I was suspicious at first when I got redirected to the membership site.