Maria Mitchell, Life, Letters, and Journals, 1896 #246903

<i>Maria Mitchell, Life, Letters, and Journals</i> compiled by Phebe Mitchell Kendall is a great insight into the life of Maria Mitchell, as the first American woman to earn a living as an astronomer. She discovered a comet way back in 1847 which was also named after her. In essence, this book celebrates women's education and women's rights. It also provides an excellent resource into astronomy and science. As her sister, Phebe Mitchell Kendall showcases a side of Maria Mitchell which textbooks and journals could never capture. The introduction itself is gripping enough with a personal biography and trivia relating to the famous astronomer and her upbringing. <br><br><i>Maria Mitchell, Life, Letters, and Journals</i> is spread over thirteen chapters and appendix including a highly descriptive and moving narrative as well as journals and letters exchanged between Maria Mitchell and others including colleagues and well-wishers. It is through the letters that the reader can gauge the true intelligence, grit and determination which were the defining characteristics of this versatile personality. The author is able to bring out the many facets of her sister through this work - the most impressive of these being the section describing her stint at Vassar College where she went beyond the mandate of astronomy and science to stand up and further women's rights as the chairman of a standing committee on American Association for the Advancement of Women among her various other achievements and accolades bestowed upon her. <br><br>In parts inspiring and in others leaving the reader awestruck, this book meanders through the trials and tribulations of a woman way ahead of her times, contributing selflessly to the advancement of science and making an indelible mark in the field of astronomy. <i>Maria Mitchell, Life, Letters, and Journals</i> is a book for all seasons and palates because at its core it is a story of inspiration and success.