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The Secret History of Wonder Woman
The Secret History of Wonder Woman | Jill Lepore
A riveting work of historical detection revealing that the origin of one of the worlds most iconic superheroes hides within it a fascinating family storyand a crucial history of twentieth-century feminismWonder Woman, created in 1941, is the most popular female superhero of all time. Aside from Superman and Batman, no superhero has lasted as long or commanded so vast and wildly passionate a following. Like every other superhero, Wonder Woman has a secret identity. Unlike every other superhero, she has also has a secret history.Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer Jill Lepore has uncovered an astonishing trove of documents, including the never-before-seen private papers of William Moulton Marston, Wonder Womans creator. Beginning in his undergraduate years at Harvard, Marston was influenced by early suffragists and feminists, starting with Emmeline Pankhurst, who was banned from speaking on campus in 1911, when Marston was a freshman. In the 1920s, Marston and his wife, Sadie Elizabeth Holloway, brought into their home Olive Byrne, the niece of Margaret Sanger, one of the most influential feminists of the twentieth century. The Marston family story is a tale of drama, intrigue, and irony. In the 1930s, Marston and Byrne wrote a regular column for Family Circle celebrating conventional family life, even as they themselves pursued lives of extraordinary nonconformity. Marston, internationally known as an expert on truthhe invented the lie detector testlived a life of secrets, only to spill them on the pages of Wonder Woman.The Secret History of Wonder Woman is a tour de force of intellectual and cultural history. Wonder Woman, Lepore argues, is the missing link in the history of the struggle for womens rightsa chain of events that begins with the womens suffrage campaigns of the early 1900s and ends with the troubled place of feminism a century later.
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DebinHawaii
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#ItTakesAllKinds

This #Superhero title has been in my TbR for quite a while now. 🦸🏻‍♀️❤️🤍💙

TheBookHippie I enjoyed this one quite a bit! 7mo
Leftcoastzen Mine too! 7mo
Eggs Great choice 👏🏻👏🏻 7mo
33 likes3 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect ❤️ 1y
Eggs Well played ❤️🤍💙 1y
63 likes2 comments
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SleepyDragon
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Pickpick

Even though the writing isn't terribly good or objective, I couldn't put this one down. It is incredibly gossipy and salacious, and reading it was sort of like watching a high speed car chase or some scandal unfold on the 6 o'clock news.

#Alphabetgame #LetterS

Graywacke Cool choice. A strangely interesting story. 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing 📚 2y
18 likes2 comments
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QBub
Pickpick

Whoda thunk it? That Wonder Woman was created by feminist who lived a “Bohemian” life, claimed to have invented the lie detector, earned a PhD from Harvard but couldn‘t keep an academic job in his field, promoted views on emotions and female-male relations that were out of the mainstream? Jill Lepore writes the fascinating story of William Moulton Marston, his wife, his former student Olive Byrne and his most notable creation: Wonder Woman.

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mcctrish
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Current audio. I grew up watching Wonder Woman on tv ( I loved Lynda Carter)

34 likes1 stack add
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Aims42
Pickpick

This is a hard one to review. Was it fascinating and interesting? Yes ✅ Was I engaged and wanted to keep reading? Yes ✅ Did the main character of the book (William Moulton Marston) leave me feeling a bit icky? Yes ✅ I learned a lot, a lot more than I bargained for. I was just looking for a fun history of Wonder Woman and instead got the whole enchilada of the creator‘s history. Interesting, but not one I‘d recommend to everyone 😬😐 3.5 stars

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Aims42
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Our local power company gave us warning today that we would lose power from 12-1PM for maintenance. Well, that‘s when I take lunch usually so…. Okay, twist my arm, I guess I‘ll go to the library and kill some time. Well. Walked out with this one and I can 100% say it was the cover that grabbed me 😆

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Ruthiella
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#WondrousWednesday

🍁 I‘m grateful for having a good roof over my head and for my employment which keeps paying the mortgage. 😀

🍁The truth is stranger than fiction.

Thanks for the tag @EadieB !

Feel like joining in? @CaffeineAndCandy @Buechersuechtling @inthegreensandblues

Cathythoughts I love your book choice 👍🏻 must investigate 4y
Eggs Great responses 📚🤗 Thanks for playing ❣️ 4y
EadieB You're welcome! Thanks for playing! 4y
inthegreensandblues This book sounds great! 4y
32 likes4 comments
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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

Repetitive in parts but had new and interesting info. Got a little carried away by the “kink” in some places.

39 likes2 stack adds
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Kaila-ann
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Bailedbailed

Definitely a case of the right book at the wrong time. Worth work, family and the world in its current state, this book was just way too intense and in-depth. I‘ve promised it to someone else along with a couple of other reading obligations that I am behind on. This isn‘t a never, just a not right now.

Seekingtardis I have had that same feeling on so many books right now! Love and hopes for better days to you!! 🥰 4y
Kaila-ann @Seekingtardis it‘s a crazy time we live in for sure. Thank you for the kind thoughts ❤️. Hope you are doing well 🥰. 4y
20 likes2 comments
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sb3626
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On today‘s edition of Litsy made me do it...

But honestly so excited to read this book!

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WoodyWoodson
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Pickpick

This was about so much more than what I was expecting (Wonder Woman and Feminism). Deep dive research, transformed into the fascinating story of suffrage, feminism, and the non traditional relationship of William Moulton Marston, Elizabeth Holloway, and Oliver Berne. A POLY FAM CREATED WONDER WOMAN!

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Bertha_Mason

Damn, William Moulton Marston (original author of Wonder Woman) had even more open fetishes than I thought. He kind of reminds me of Chris Claremont, who wrote for X-Men.

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Oldschool_millenial
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Turned in an essay today. Now for my 10-page research paper due Thursday and I'm DONE. I'm writing about the sexualization of women in comics. Lots to unpack here.

Oh yeah, I'm graduating, too.

Interview with author here:
https://www.npr.org/2014/10/27/359078315/the-man-behind-wonder-woman-was-inspire...

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EchoCharlie
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In testing blood pressure differences in men and women, Marston found that women were "more emotional".

"The kinds of statements that got women agitated were things like 'I was so mad I could have killed her!' What got men riled up were statements like 'I may not get that teaching job"

So not really more emotional, but actually more responsive to possible threats or warning signs of violence, while men were more worried about their egos.

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mlzbthc
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Back at it (late) again with #riotgrams

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TracyReadsBooks
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Pickpick

What a fascinating story not only about the origins & early years of Wonder Woman but also the man, William Marston, who created her, his family, & the feminist movement. Marston was, frankly, a man I would not want to leave my daughter alone with & yet this same man also created what is arguably the most iconic female superhero out there. The women in his life are less well-known, by choice, but equally fascinating. Very good, surprising read.

ElishaLovesBooks I think this sounds so fascinating! 6y
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TracyReadsBooks
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Instructions given to artist drawing Wonder Woman when the character was first created.

On a side note, this book is excellent and evidence yet once again, if any was needed, that fact is stranger than fiction.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes! I loved this book, because the truth was so completely soap opera worthy twisty. 6y
imyril If you loved this, you might enjoy Professor Marston and the Wonder Women. Such a beautiful film - focused on the relationship between the trio and how it influenced WW. 6y
20 likes2 comments
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Chrissyreadit
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This sounds intriguing and the partial story of Olive - who has a real life #sistersuffragette- Margaret Sanford. The reviews indicate this is not about Wonder Woman as much as the lives behind Wonder Woman #musicalnewyear

shawnmooney I highly recommend this one! 6y
Cinfhen I‘m intrigued ~ hoping my library will have an E copy to borrow 🤞🏼 6y
Chrissyreadit @shawnmooney good to know! I was interested, now definitely want to read. 6y
charl08 Love this book. I've got her latest book having enjoyed this so much. Fascinating story. 6y
vivastory I've heard great things about this one 6y
83 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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TracyReadsBooks
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Super excited about my next nonfiction read!

WONDER WOMAN!!!

mrozzz YAAAAASSSSSSSSS 6y
19 likes1 stack add1 comment
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mlzbthc

“She had a friend everyone called ‘Blackie,‘ because she dyed her hair with shoe polish. Blackie‘s favorite saying got to be one of Holloway‘s favorite sayings, too. Blackie would say, ‘God, Missus, there ain‘t a man on Earth worth a foot in Hell.‘”

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sophierayton
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Pickpick

Catchy title but it would be more accurate to call this The Secret History of William Moulton Marston. This had lots of great history of feminism also which I especially enjoyed. I will read my Wonder Woman comics from an altered perspective from now on.

31 likes1 stack add
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JackOBotts
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1. Hoping to read at least 18 books this year. I‘ve got some chunksters on my #tbr for #2019.
2. Does whatever is leftover count?!🤷🏻‍♀️😉
3. Wonder Woman 💪🏼
4. August
5. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 Happy Birthday Month!!
#friyayintro @howjessreads

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aroc
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Made my #ReadingChallenge2019. In 2018, I read 75 out of 60 which was great! Now even with baby on his way I am going to try to keep up! The hubby challenged me to 75 and told me that baby books don't count. So here's to a wonderful 2019! Happy reading to my Litsy family! 💛💙💛

Lovesbooks87 You got this!! 6y
aroc @Lovesbooks87 Thank you! 💛 6y
18 likes2 comments
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Pogue
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Pickpick

It was not what I expected and I loved it. But Wonder Woman has always been my favorite.

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Pogue
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My companion while waiting at urgent care. Glad I always have a book.

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TracyReadsBooks
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A nonfiction book haul today. The author of the tagged book is out with a new one volume history of the United States which is getting rave reviews so I decided to pick up both. Woodward‘s book was actually book mail earlier in the week and I expect it to be a shining example of fact being stranger than fiction.

22 likes1 stack add
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Leftcoastzen
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Weaponxgirl Excellent result! 6y
29 likes1 comment
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Vulpixen
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“Even their house is gay”!! 🙀🤣

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Vulpixen
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There is a lot more about law and the rules of evidence on this book than anticipated, and as a lawyer, I dig it 🤓 #lawnerd

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Vulpixen
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Really looking forward to this read!

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rachelm
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"Feminists were considered a kind of deviant-- a woman who could not accept that she wasn't a man"

This book was worth waiting for-- way more than the history of the comic. The history of psychology, sex, and America. Loving it!

tournevis My father read it from my library this week and he liked it. Not sure he understood much of it, from his comments, but hey, he read it. 7y
rachelm @tournevis 😂I cannot really imagine discussing this book with my dad 7y
48 likes2 comments
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tournevis
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1️⃣ Books and rare watercolour pigments.
2️⃣ Naked as the day it was born.
3️⃣ Independant ebooks publishers, Kobo, Kindle, and independant paper book sellers, chain book stores, in that order.
#tripletuesday @melann

(Also, my father is now reading the tagged book. I've hidden away any pencils.)

MelAnn Rare pigments - love it! 🎨 Thanks so much for participating! 7y
tournevis @MelAnn Have you ever painted with real indigo, real Mayan blue, or actual cuttlefish sepia? It's thrilling! 7y
MelAnn No I haven‘t! Wouldn‘t know where to find them! Amateur finger painter here! 7y
tournevis @MelAnn That's all good! 7y
37 likes4 comments
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tournevis
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1️⃣ Wonder Woman
2️⃣ I don't think I have one now. As a teenager, Muad'dib.
3️⃣ Spock 🖖
4️⃣ Rastapopoulos
5️⃣ Batman/Iron Man
6️⃣ @Jabberwocky

41 likes1 stack add
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Lauredhel
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Just finished this today!

BookInMyHands This is awesome, good for you! 7y
Eyelit Very cool!!! 7y
See All 15 Comments
ReadingRover Cool!!! 7y
Sassy_Steph Love!! 7y
Mitch That‘s so cool! 7y
398.2 Love love love 7y
readsusieread I love this! Did you use a specific pattern or make it up!? 7y
Lauredhel @readsusieread I'm nowhere near that smart- this is the Wonder Woman Wrap (Crochet) pattern. 7y
readsusieread @Lauredhel I can't make up patterns either. Definitely not a skill set I have! I'll have to look it up! It's lovely! 7y
Lauredhel @readsusieread this one is one-quarter of a series I'm doing for an SF con art show. Enjoy! 7y
readsusieread @Lauredhel that's awrsome! Will you post the others!?? 7y
Lauredhel @readsusieread I'll post the finished piece, it's in a couple months 7y
readsusieread @Lauredhel looking forward to it! 7y
78 likes15 comments
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danimgill
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This might be the most Bostonian I‘ve ever been in a picture lol - can‘t survive a dreary and wet commute to a Saturday shift without dunks hot chocolate, LL bean boots, and a good book 😁

Bklover Have a great day! 7y
danimgill @Bklover Thanks, you too! 😊 7y
Zelma I was thinking this looked very Boston before even reading your post. 😂👍 (I lived in Wakefield as a kid so I have an affinity for all things Boston and New England.) 7y
See All 6 Comments
danimgill @Zelma Haha so you can pick it right out then! 😜 I grew up in CT but have been in Boston almost nine years - I feel like I have finally assimilated lol 7y
Zelma @danimgill we always referred to those as duck boots. 😋 is that still the right term? 7y
danimgill @Zelma I think so! At least, I still call them that lol so if it‘s passé we are passé together ?? 7y
63 likes6 comments
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danimgill
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This one has been on my TBR for a while - excited to finally get to it and learn the cultural backstory of one of my favorite comic book characters 💥

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Schlinkles
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Pickpick

I think some of today‘s politicians are channeling this “ghost” of George Washington from a 1943 issue of Wonder Woman. This book was fascinating, covering feminism and birth control to the comics code and lie detectors. Truth really is stranger than fiction sometimes.

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Schlinkles
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On to the first of 2018‘s book club picks, still hanging around in the DC universe.

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KimHM
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Pickpick

This is a TERRIFIC book, full of detail and context and actual secrets (unlike many a book claiming to be a secret history). Even if you‘ve already read the original 2014 edition, it‘s worth having a look at the paperback for the new research afterword. If you haven‘t read the original, know there is at least as much in the story about feminism and free love as there is about comics. 💡💡💡💡💡#generalinterest #teaching

TheAnitaAlvarez Sounds great! 7y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
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KimHM
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Happy Holidays to all!

8 likes1 stack add
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aroc
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My co-worker knows me so well! My secret Santa was the best! And she's on litsy! Thanks @whatsthEStorey for the wonderful present!

P.S. I cannot stop saying "llama pajamas"! ??

whatsthEStorey So glad you were happy with the book! I was crossing my fingers you hadn't read it already! 7y
12 likes1 comment
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KimHM
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“In prewar, early twentieth century feminist fiction, women rule the world in peace and equality.” 💙💚💛🧡💜

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KimHM
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I have no particular feeling about comics (except for Batman. And Harvey Pekar), but my students respond well, so I thought I‘d give myself a crash course over break. That said, this book is fascinating! Crime 💥 Scandal ⚡️Love 🧡 Feminism 🎉 And that‘s only in the first 75 pages. #teaching

KimHM Oh, and also, Lepore‘s writing is terrific—lively, detailed, smart, and funny. 7y
6 likes1 comment
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KimHM
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Doing some theme reading . . .

7 likes1 stack add
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jenw2012
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This describes me perfectly. My #coffee addiction is almost as real as my #reading problem.

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JSW
Pickpick

Really fascinating slice of history - not just the history of Wonder Woman, but that of feminism, the lie detector, free love, Margaret Sanger and birth control, and comic books. A reminder that there are so many factors at play throughout history - it isn‘t a linear narrative. And a reminder that the struggle for women‘s rights continues.