An overview of the women's suffrage movement in the United States during the 18th. Century. This was a time when the legislature of Tennessee declared that women could not own property since they had no souls. In the few states where a women could own property, she had no voice over its taxation, a complaint the Founding Fathers had against the English crown. The book begins with a series of sketchy biographies, and then tells the tale very ably. If you know little of the American suffrage movement two centuries ago, this is a good primer. Truly makes you respect Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, giants in the quest for freedom for all. The irony of newly freed black male slaves, totally unbooked, refusing to be taught by an educated person because they were female and therefore beneath them, was an interesting cocktail of prejudice. Even the great Even Frederick Douglass spoke about his concern that black male suffrage should proceed a woman's...either white or black. Susan B. Anthony thought that equal meant just that, equal rights for both women, blacks, and the white males.

"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences." -Susan B. Anthony, 1860.

A thorough, easily-read, fascinating book about the early American Women's Rights movement. I have read many books on this subject, and rate this as one of the highest in objectivity and appeal. Especially good as a springboard for those not already familar with the subject. Brush up on your HERstory!

Ms. Gurko consumes half her text in getting to the main point of her title: the war itself. Her bent is clearly pro-Black Hawk, which dilutes her ability to present fair alaysis. Despite this, the account is readable and occasionally balanced, but grossly oversimplified and anecdotal.

For example, Chapter 11, entitled "The Battle of Wisconsin Heights" runs from page 136 to page 142, yet Ms. Gurko covers the entire battle in a single paragraph! The observation that the rain and wet grass was a contributing factor in the Wisconsin Heights battle stands as one of the rare insights contained in the book.

Unfortunately, errors of fact are a frequent distraction. For example, Colonel Henry Dodge is often described as commanding a "company" of "Galena miners." Dodge instead commanded all the militia troops in the wetsern Michigan Territory, including the battalion-sized Michigan Mounted Volunteers, which included Captain Stephenson's company of mounted rangers from Galena. Indexed and features a limited a bibliography, but no footnotes.

Persons interested in a thoughtful, well-researched alaysis of the Sauk War of 1832 will need to look elsewhere.