Description
Book SynopsisFollowing Mary Pickford's life, this book gives an overview of her enduring contribution to American film and mass culture. It also explores her struggles to surpass her confining public film persona as 'America's Sweetheart', mirroring how women, both then and today, must reconcile domestic life with professional aspirations and work.
Trade Review"Mary Pickford emerges as a woman of depth and business acumen that bely her reputation as America's Sweetheart. In this biography Pickford is the product of an underprivileged childhood and a rapidly changing America who has the wherewithal and talent to make it on her own. Her influence is felt far beyond the screen into the very depths of Hollywood's development." --Tonia M. Compton, Columbia College of Missouri Praise for the Lives of American Women series: "Finally! The majority of students--by which I mean women--will have the opportunity to read biographies of women from our nation's past. (Men can read them too, of course!) The 'Lives of American Women' series features an eclectic collection of books, readily accessible to students who will be able to see the contributions of women in many fields over the course of our history. Long overdue, these books will be a valuable resource for teachers, students, and the public at large." --Cokie Roberts, author of Founding Mothers and Ladies of Liberty "Just what any professor wants: books that will intrigue, inform, and fascinate students! These short, readable biographies of American women--specifically designed for classroom use--give instructors an appealing new option to assign to their history students." --Mary Beth Norton, Mary Donlon Alger Professor of American History, Cornell University "For educators keen to include women in the American story, but hampered by the lack of thoughtful, concise scholarship, here comes 'Lives of American Women,' embracing Abigail Adams's counsel to John--'remember the ladies.' And high time, too!" --Lesley S. Herrmann, Executive Director, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History "These books are, above all, fascinating stories that will engage and inspire readers. They offer a glimpse into the lives of key women in history who either defied tradition or who successfully maneuvered in a man's world to make an impact. The stories of these vital contributors to American history deliver just the right formula for instructors looking to provide a more complicated and nuanced view of history." --Rosanne Lichatin, 2005 Gilder Lehrman Preserve America History Teacher of the Year
Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 From Gladys Smith to Mary Pickford: A Childhood on Stage and At Work, 1892-1909 2 Pickford and the Moving Pictures: Creating the Art and Business of Film, 1909--1913 3 A Star and a Producer are Born, 1913-1916 4 America's Sweetheart and American Empire in the Age of the Great War, 1917-1920 5 Mary and Doug: American Royalty, Hollywood Style, 1920-1926 6 Weathering Personal, Industrial, and Economic Crises, 1927-1936 7 Studio Executive and Philanthropist: A Life Beyond Performing, 1936-1979 Epilogue Primary Sources Study Questions Notes Bibliography Index
