Free Woman: The Life and Times of Victoria Woodhull

Free Woman chronicles Victoria Woodhull's rise from poverty to become a stockbroker, newspaper publisher, and the first woman to run for U.S. President in 1872. Marion Meade presents Woodhull's controversial life against the backdrop of Gilded Age America, documenting her evolution into a fierce advocate for women's rights and free love. The biography traces Woodhull's complex relationships with prominent figures like Cornelius Vanderbilt, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony. Her creation of a radical newspaper, her public speaking career, and her eventual exile to England form the narrative spine of this detailed account. Woodhull's story intersects with major social movements of the 19th century, including spiritualism, suffrage, and labor reform. The book examines her unconventional personal life alongside her public battles with religious leaders, politicians, and the press. Through Woodhull's remarkable journey, Meade illustrates the extreme constraints placed on women in Victorian America and the price paid by those who dared to challenge them. The biography raises enduring questions about gender, power, and the tension between personal freedom and social acceptance.

Readers appreciate Meade's thorough research and engaging portrayal of Victoria Woodhull's unconventional life. Many note the book reveals lesser-known aspects of the first woman to run for U.S. president, particularly her work as a stockbroker and newspaper publisher. Positive reviews mention: - Clear presentation of complex historical context - Balance between personal life and political career - Inclusion of primary sources and letters Common criticisms: - Writing style can be dry in sections - Some historical tangents distract from main narrative - Limited coverage of Woodhull's later years in England Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (248 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (32 ratings) Several readers noted the book focuses more on scandals than accomplishments. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "More attention to her spiritualist career and less to her marriages would have better served her legacy." Goodreads reviewers frequently mentioned wanting more details about her presidential campaign platform and strategies.

Mrs. Satan by Myra MacPherson A biographical account of Victoria Woodhull's rise from poverty to presidential candidate, focusing on her battles with religious leaders and suffragists in Gilded Age America.

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The Scarlet Sisters by Myra MacPherson The story of Victoria Woodhull and Tennessee Claflin traces their path from spiritualist healers to Wall Street brokers to newspaper publishers who challenged society's views on sex, love, and women's rights.

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🗳️ Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to run for U.S. President, launching her campaign in 1872 - nearly 50 years before women could legally vote. 📚 Author Marion Meade spent over three years researching Woodhull's life, uncovering previously unpublished documents and family letters to create this comprehensive biography. 💰 Woodhull and her sister Tennessee Claflin became the first women stockbrokers on Wall Street in 1870, opening their own brokerage firm Woodhull, Claflin & Company. 🔮 Before her political career, Woodhull worked as a spiritual medium and magnetic healer, traveling with her sister throughout the Midwest performing séances. 📰 She founded her own newspaper, Woodhull & Claflin's Weekly, which was the first American publication to print Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto in English.