Helpful Score: 6
A beautifully written autobiography. At age 11, Conway ( Women Reformers and American Culture ) left the arduous life on her family's sheep farm in the Australian outback for school in war-time Sydney, burdened by an emotionally dependent, recently widowed mother. A lively curiosity and penetrating intellect illuminate this unusually objective account of the author's progress from a solitary childhood--the most appealing part of the narrative--to public achievement as president of Smith College and now professor at MIT. Gifted with an ability to adapt to a wide range of cultures and people and despite ingrained Australian prejudice against intellectuals, Conway devoted herself to the study of history and literature, spurred on by excellent British-style schooling.
Helpful Score: 5
A beautifully written narrative of Conway's life on a sheep-farm in the grasslands of Australia, her intellectual blossoming in a male dominated culture and her departure for American, eventually the presidency of Smith College.
Helpful Score: 4
This is a great book, I especially loved the beginning where she talks of her childhood on a sheep farm in New South Wales really interesting stuff.Also very strong people who by the end of the book you feel like you know.This book is a very complex story of a woman torn between her family duty and her academic acheviments in a time and place where women rarley achevied the success she attains.Lots of interesting facts of her travels at that time in history. At the end she emerges as a very strong female against all odds.
Helpful Score: 3
I really enjoyed about three-fourths of this book. It was very interesting how she grew up in the outbush of Australia and what a different and difficult life it was. The last part of the book wasn't quit as interesting, but on a whole I really liked the book.
Helpful Score: 1
Well written autobiographical rendering of a woman's upbringing, trials and education in Australia. Full of wonderful descriptions, brilliant remembrances. Thoughtfully developed and skillfully executed.
