Revolutionary Heart: The Life of Clarina Nichols and the Pioneering Crusade for Women’s Rights

Diane Eickhoff
Quindaro Press (2006)
ISBN 0976443449
Reviewed by Mary Nyland for Reader Views (5/06)

Revolutionary Heart, written by Diane Eickhoff, is not only well written, but also well researched and extremely readable. The text is intelligent, provocative, and moves at an interesting pace.

Clearly, this author has done her homework. Not only is she historically accurate, she also puts meat on the bones of her characters to make them dynamic and memorable.

Clarina Nichols is a rare and determined woman. Life in the 1800's in early America is no place for a woman who liked to make up her own mind, yet she became one of America's first female newspaper editors. She moved on to public speaking and is a founder of the woman's movement. Married twice, she faced the challenges of choosing the wrong mate, of being a single parent, and of having opinions that she simply had to express. Amid the laughter and the heartache, we get a glimpse of the life of a strong, resourceful early settler who set the pace for many to follow. Early in her career she says: 'If we are the weaker sex, oh, give us, we pray you, equal protection with the stronger sex!' (p63) and in later years: 'Only those who have suffered as I have can have the courage and determination to move steadily forward against such opposition (as the laws against women's rights). She spoke out against the laws that protected fatherhood: fatherhood included 100% custody of the children. If a man died, his children were, by law, given to people who were considered worthy to raise a child. This short list did not include the mother. Wives were to 'submit to the will of her husband in all things.' But what, she asks, is a woman to do if her husband wishes her to vote?

I would encourage all historians, students of American history, and any man or women wanting a good read to pick up “Revolutionary Heart.”

Although the title is fitting, it is the only criticism I have. I would not buy a book with that title off the shelf. The word 'Heart' would confuse someone with my taste as I am not a romance reader. Sorry, I cannot think of a better title but that is my opinion.

If Diane Eickhoff writes more books, and I hope she does, I will definitely purchase them.

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