Margaret Fuller

Antebellum America truly defined itself as a culture of eloquence. This disposition could be seen in the creation of new cultural spaces, such as the lyceum and popular lecture system, for speakers who were then measured against the ideals of eloquence held by their listeners. Defining eloquence as "powerful, moving speech, " Warren engages a host of writers/ orators to develop his argument, beginning with Ralph Waldo Emerson's philosophy of language in the 1830s and expanding his discussion to include the theories and practices of Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Peabody, Frederick Douglass, William Gilmore Simms, and Walt Whitman. From this list he outlines practices that crossed the boundaries of gender, race, and class, ultimately showing that diverse sectors of society valued the word as a means toward reform.

Powerful words move people to action, and Warren clearly delineates the authority accorded oratory in antebellum America. This book will appeal to a wide audience, including those interested in antebellum American culture, American literature and cultural history, literary criticism, and rhetoric.

Following a strict upbringing and severe tutelage by her father, Fuller went on to make a life as a writer, teacher, and champion for women's rights and equality. She formed many important relationships, most notably with Ralph Waldo Emerson. While Emerson taught Fuller a great deal, including the way to an "inner life", he fell short, as her father had done. But her spiritual struggles with her upbringing and relationships led to her continued intellectual maturity.

Fuller demanded not only political equality for women, but also emotional, intellectual, and spiritual freedom. With Woman in the Nineteenth Century, she advanced the cause of women's rights, urging women to find independence from the roles society had imposed upon them, in the home and with the family. She also promoted legal reform to end inequalities to women and spoke frankly on issues of marriage and relationships. While it shocked many, the first edition of the book sold out within a week in 1845 and sparked serious debate.

In Transfiguring America, Steele takes an in-depth look at Fuller's philosophy before this famous book, and how it makes her an important contributor to theoretical debates. He points out that Fuller'spersonal experiences and her cultural critiques are, in fact, the heart of her distinctive and highly influential writing. This book is further evidence that in addition to her role as one of nineteenth-century America's most po