Sunday, December 21, 2008
Totally Quotable-Mildred Wirt
On her first solo-flight: "Touch the throttle and it would snort with rage. Step too hard on the brakes and it would try to pitch the instructor through the windshield. Airborne, it arrogantly flew itself, tying me into a mental pretzel." From the Toledo Blade
Never a Bad Word-Girl Sleuth
Never A Bad Word
Girl Sleuth: the Women Behind Nancy Drew-Melanie Rehak
Girl Sleuth: The Women Behind Nancy Drew sets out to tell the tale of how Nancy Drew became the smartest, bravest, most popular, and best-dressed girl in children’s literature. Though, along the way it becomes a chronicling of American feminism guided by the much beloved fictional character. At times, the book suggests that Nancy may have made her readers grow into feminists, but mostly it proposes that the Nancy Drew’s character was the product of woman’s growing role in society, as well as, a mascot lovingly appropriated by later movements.
In order to frame the tale of Nancy Drew, Melanie Rehak starts with the college educations of her two most notable writers Mildred Wirt and Harriet Stratemeyer. Both have very different backgrounds, values, and ambitions, but both, unknowingly, blaze the path to feminism by being some of the first educated working women in America. Ms. Drew definitely gets her gumption from Mildred who went on to become a reporter, pilot and adventurer who was still actively writing for the Toledo Blade past her 93rd birthday. On a different note, Nancy gets her style, and graciousness from Harriet whose father originally came up with the idea for the Nancy Drew Mysteries. Somewhere between the two women’s views of their creation, Nancy grew to be a timeless role-model and inspiration for millions of women and girls.
Girl Sleuth: the Women Behind Nancy Drew-Melanie Rehak
Girl Sleuth: The Women Behind Nancy Drew sets out to tell the tale of how Nancy Drew became the smartest, bravest, most popular, and best-dressed girl in children’s literature. Though, along the way it becomes a chronicling of American feminism guided by the much beloved fictional character. At times, the book suggests that Nancy may have made her readers grow into feminists, but mostly it proposes that the Nancy Drew’s character was the product of woman’s growing role in society, as well as, a mascot lovingly appropriated by later movements.
In order to frame the tale of Nancy Drew, Melanie Rehak starts with the college educations of her two most notable writers Mildred Wirt and Harriet Stratemeyer. Both have very different backgrounds, values, and ambitions, but both, unknowingly, blaze the path to feminism by being some of the first educated working women in America. Ms. Drew definitely gets her gumption from Mildred who went on to become a reporter, pilot and adventurer who was still actively writing for the Toledo Blade past her 93rd birthday. On a different note, Nancy gets her style, and graciousness from Harriet whose father originally came up with the idea for the Nancy Drew Mysteries. Somewhere between the two women’s views of their creation, Nancy grew to be a timeless role-model and inspiration for millions of women and girls.
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