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Literary Criticism. Sociology. Nonfiction. HTML:A riveting work of historical detection revealing that the origin of one of the world�??s most iconic superheroes hides within it a fascinating family story�??and a crucial history of twentieth-century feminism Wonder 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 Woman�??s 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 truth�??he invented the lie detector test�??lived 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 women�??s rights�??a chain of events that begins with the women�??s suffrage campaigns of the early 1900s and ends with the troubled place of f… (more)
User reviews
William M. Marsden, Wonder Woman's creator and the inventor of the first lie detector, was an odd mixture of intellect and P.T. Barnum, a man unable to hold a job but very able to build an unconventional family life with devoted women who seem both his intellectual equals and his practical superiors. Their collective story is intimately related to such feminists as Margaret Sanger and Emmeline Pankhurst, as well as significant events of the century. Marsen is in many ways an unlikely champion of women's rights, but Lepore uses him as the center post around which to swirl the history of feminism, birth control, comic books, bogus science and primitive psychological research. And although he died comparatively young, the women in his family, bound up with Wonder Woman and feminism, lived on through most of the century and bore witness to the accomplishment of at least some of their dreams.
I'd give it five stars, but must subtract a little for repetition now and then. It's still an excellent social history of the U.S. in the 20th century. The print edition has many photos and Wonder Woman strips and drawings; I listened to the audio read by the author, which held my full attention.
Marston is a fascinating character - he comes across as a bit of a narcissist and snake-oil salesman, but there is no denying that
Lepore writes about Marston with detachment and does not make judgments or speculations about him. It would be very easy to portray him as a total nut-case, or bigamist, or masochist. However, Lepore lets the evidence speak for itself, noting that despite the prevalence of bondage in Wonder Woman comics, there is no evidence that Marston and his lovers participated in BDSM in their real lives.
This book clearly makes the case that Wonder Woman was conceived as a feminist icon, and that she lost that stature after Marston's death when other writers took over.
It is fascinating and disheartening for me to see that a lot of stuff that was said about Wonder Woman when she was first created is still being said now: girls need role models, we need greater diversity in popular culture, etc. And to see that for some reason the producers of comic books then and movies now are shocked when Wonder Woman sells well and makes a lot of money.
This book can be a little dry at times, but is a fascinating account of the history of Wonder Woman.
The first half of the book has less to do with Wonder Woman herself, and much more about the lives and passions of William Moulton Marston ("Charles Moulton", the acknowledged creator of WW), his wife Elizabeth Holloway, and their live-in lover and co-parent, Olive Byrne. There was also a fourth member of their inner sexual circle, Marjorie Wilkes Huntley, who was much less a member of the "family" than the former three.
William Moulton Marston was an original inventor of what's commonly known as a "lie detector" (a blood pressure-based system), a law graduate, and a professor of philosophy and psychology. Elizabeth Holloway held nearly the same educational degrees her husband did, excepting the Ph.D (which she forgoed to support Marston's career). Olive Byrne was an exceptionally intelligent and educated woman herself - and had the distinction of being the daughter and niece of the two founders of Planned Parenthood (known then as the Birth Control Federation of America) - Edith Byrne and her sister, the better-known Margaret Sanger. Both Holloway and Byrne did much of the work and writing behind Wonder Woman - Leport's research seems to indicate that it is very difficult to tell often who wrote what.
Although the character and the comic changed drastically after Marston's death from polio in 1947, the character of Wonder Woman, and the stories she appeared in, were from the start intended to support and promote the creators' idea of feminism and female equality. In no small part, those early years were also dedicated to the sexual ideals of Marston, Holloway, and Byrne, especially Marston's interest in dominance and submission.
The influence of the early suffragette movement, the emergence and fight for birth control, and the connection between Margaret Sanger and the people behind Wonder Woman has been largely unknown until recently. Largely, this is because Olive Byrne wished privacy, and forbade Marston and Holloway from even telling Byrne's two children that their biological father was Marston (although both women raised all four of their children together, and they continued to live together for the rest of their lives, decades after Marston's death - and even though Marston legally adopted the two children he had with Byrne).
Absolutely fascinating - and illuminating. Many kudos to author Jill Leport for her (dare I say Amazonian?) feat of original research.
WMM was hardly a paragon as he liked to portray himself, though his thoughts on feminism & women's equality were definitely ahead of his time.
Well worth reading for fans of comics history, women's history, or the history of psychology.
The only knock on the book is that it is by no means a complete history of Wonder Woman. It might better have been
You'll learn about William Marston, the inventor of an early version of the lie-detector test/failed psychologist/failed moviemaker/failed entrepreneur who used his lifelong obsession with women to craft the early tales of the Amazonian Wonder Woman. You'll learn about his wife. And his other wife. And his other other kind-of wife.
You'll be confused by what scholarship/writing should be attributed to whom between the primary threesome. You'll be bewildered by the lengths of the deception that the unofficial wife went to keep Marston's progenitorship a secret from her children. And you'll be slightly weirded out by how closely Margaret Sanger weaves in to all of it.
The book focuses heavily on the early comics (up until Marston's death), then sort of writes off the entire 50 other years with a "the people who came directly after Marston were chauvinist pigs" which, while not inaccurate, is not exactly meeting the mantle of "history."
That being said, this book is essential for truly understanding Wonder Woman, her origins and her standing/place in the culture at large.
Who knew that Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston, a psychologist and lawyer, who lived an unconventional life with his wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, and his former grad-student, Olive Byrne? Who knew that the character of Diana Prince and her homeland of Paradise
Author Jill Lepore delves into this complex history to weave together the variety of characters whose lives directly inspired Wonder Woman. As much as William Moulton Marston wants to present the notion that Wonder Woman sprung from his forehead like he was Zeus, there were many more people involved in developing the atmosphere – and not to mention in supporting the environment in which Marston worked – out of which the superhero evolved.
Lepore initially focuses on Marston’s work on the lie detector – which manifests itself in the comics as Wonder Woman’s golden lasso that forces people to tell the truth. In this opening section, Lepore’s narrative skills are a bit shaky. Episodes appear fragmented, facts are tossed in as though everything has relevance. But once she moves into the early history of the suffragettes, the author takes off, and the work unfolds in fascinating detail.
I kept being shocked by Marston’s charismatic egoism – he sounds charming and infuriating. He comes across as a grandiose personality that needs constant affirmation of his somewhat questionable skills. There’s no doubt that he had the best intentions in his work, but he sounds more like a smarmy salesperson than a professional academic.
What is most fascinating about Lepore’s book is how Margaret Sanger and other influential feminists deliberately kept themselves one step removed from Wonder Woman, as though the comic book character would taint their ferocious fight for equality. Even into the 1960s and 70s, Wonder Woman remains a questionable icon to Gloria Steinem. What does it mean to have this powerful superhero as a symbol of equality when women question the efficacy of her use?
Lepore’s book has less to do with the history of comic books and more the social mileau out of which Wonder Woman grew. It’s a fascinating read, once she gets going on the history of feminism.
Dr. William Moulton Marston was not an ordinary man, even by early twentieth century standards. His lifestyle (two wives, a third
As wild as Marston and his household was, the history of Wonder Woman herself reveals some of the most staunch feminists in the world. The struggle to get her published and kept published is quite interesting. Along with Batman and Superman, Wonder Woman has remained the longest running superhero in comic history.
Who knew that Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston, a psychologist and lawyer, who lived an unconventional life with his wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, and his former grad-student, Olive Byrne? Who knew that the character of Diana Prince and her homeland of Paradise
Author Jill Lepore delves into this complex history to weave together the variety of characters whose lives directly inspired Wonder Woman. As much as William Moulton Marston wants to present the notion that Wonder Woman sprung from his forehead like he was Zeus, there were many more people involved in developing the atmosphere – and not to mention in supporting the environment in which Marston worked – out of which the superhero evolved.
Lepore initially focuses on Marston’s work on the lie detector – which manifests itself in the comics as Wonder Woman’s golden lasso that forces people to tell the truth. In this opening section, Lepore’s narrative skills are a bit shaky. Episodes appear fragmented, facts are tossed in as though everything has relevance. But once she moves into the early history of the suffragettes, the author takes off, and the work unfolds in fascinating detail.
I kept being shocked by Marston’s charismatic egoism – he sounds charming and infuriating. He comes across as a grandiose personality that needs constant affirmation of his somewhat questionable skills. There’s no doubt that he had the best intentions in his work, but he sounds more like a smarmy salesperson than a professional academic.
What is most fascinating about Lepore’s book is how Margaret Sanger and other influential feminists deliberately kept themselves one step removed from Wonder Woman, as though the comic book character would taint their ferocious fight for equality. Even into the 1960s and 70s, Wonder Woman remains a questionable icon to Gloria Steinem. What does it mean to have this powerful superhero as a symbol of equality when women question the efficacy of her use?
Lepore’s book has less to do with the history of comic books and more the social mileau out of which Wonder Woman grew. It’s a fascinating read, once she gets going on the history of feminism.
This book reminded me about the little bios of heroic women that were in each comic. Those really taught me a lot when I was a little girl. I hope something like that is around for youngsters today.
Of course they had me with the big brassy almost vulgar Harry G. Peters drawing of our girl on the cover.
As a comic book nerd in good standing, I bought it to read about Wonder Woman and the early days of comic books in the 1940's and
And the psychologist and doctor who invented WW, and his menage a trois household arrangements that everyone seems to think was nothing much t get excited about.
Well the book has that and more but Jill Lepore who is a serious scholar and historian did the Life and Times too !
This book offers a wonderful survey course on Woman's History in the 20th Century, from the "Votes for Women" movement to the early days of Birth Control liberation, and it's just amazing. Margaret Sanger puts in an appearance. Wonder Woman doesn't even show up (except for illustrations) until page 157.
Then you get a deep dive into Dr. William Charles Moulton and his two wives, basically one who was a Wonder Woman herself and one who was more or less the good down to earth housewife of the family. (But also a writer and a breadwinner - sometimes more than the Good Doctor!).
Lazy writers say that Moulton invented the lie detector, which isn't quite right - but it does explain why The Amazon Princess bears a lariat that makes people tell the truth
And why Dr. Psycho and the Psycho-Pirate feature prominently in her Villains Gallery. And the wonderful Duke of Deception.
And Moulton was a fervent advocate of women's rights, but you know, our Heroine wears the bracelets of submission and can be tamed if a man links them together. (If you can find an early WW story that does not find her in some form of bondage award yourself a gold star). PS - you can't.
The outsider in the star spangled bustier exploring "Man's World" was the Wonder Woman I fell in love with. And Etta Candy is my favorite Golden Age Sidekick. Woo-Hoo! (Not Now, Doiby Dickles!)
Highly recommended. And not just for comic book nerds.
While making a living as a writer and Hollywood consultant, Marston also lived off the contribution of his women, plural. Based upon his unorthodox psychological ideas, he lived together in a ménage-à-trois, spiced up with some bondage and submission play (that would feature strongly in his Wonder Woman plots). His wife meanwhile served as a notable editor to editor for the US edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. The second woman, Olive Byrne, a former student of Marston's, reared both women's children and worked as a journalist. A great twist in the story is that both these professional women were feminists, Olive Byrne was the daughter of birth control activist Ethel Byrne and niece to Margaret Sanger, thus of impeccable feminist pedigree that led to the creation of the Amazon champion.
The biographical elements are used to great effect to lead the reader into the strange world of the past where women are forbidden to lecture at Harvard and even informing about birth control is illegal. In 1917, Byrne was convicted for distributing contraceptives in New York and sentenced to thirty days in prison which she spent in hunger strike until she nearly died. The book is thus both a tribute to an inventive quack and the early era of American feminism. Highly recommended.
It's no secret that the history of Wonder Woman and her creator is by far one of the most fascinating in comic books. A book like this was waiting to be written at some point. For me, it had everything I wanted and then some. I'd call myself a big fan of Wonder Woman, but over the years
William Moulton Marston is a writer who I put into the category of separating his lifestyle from the comic books....or so I thought. In a way this statement still stands true because unlike Wonder Woman, Marston's life an this biography isn't for kids to read. Wonder Woman is very much an icon for adults as well as children...as long as children don't read this book.
Lepore kind of hit the nail over the head with so many topics the have surrounded Wonder Woman for years and maybe added some more. Mostly she brings up the fact that yes indeed Wonder Woman is a huge feminist icon, whether you label yourself on or not, you can't deny the fact Wonder Woman had feminism in the comic books. This book does bring up the fact too there is a lot of sexual undertones in the comics, you can't hid the fact Wonder Woman is bonded or tied-up in nearly every issue. Yes Wonder Woman is feminist as a character, but the stories can bring that up for debate.
Lepore also brings up Marston's family. Even for today's standers it's controversial. He was living with two or three other woman and had kids with them all under the same roof. Two of the woman died together. I'm still a little confused on this because it reads like a soap opera. One thing I didn't know was Wonder Woman's connection with Margaret Sanger. Lepore even states how Wonder Woman is partially inspired on Sanger (among sever other women).
If you think you know the real story of Wonder Woman, chances are you don't until you read this book. It sounds like Lepore got some "secret" documents with the family's permission. I'm not sure some of this stuff was ever seen before. This doesn't read like a tell-all-book, so don't worry about that. This is biography and a history book with facts and a ton of research. This is for Wonder Woman fans, but more for the people who want the actual history.
This book might make you love Wonder Woman even more or might make you ask "Who exactly is Wonder Woman?"
This is a fascinating look at the truly bizarre origins of Wonder Woman, the creative genius of the Marstons, a most complicated and unconventional family (one man and three women!). If you want to know where the idea for WW's bracelets came from, why she gets tied up so many times, or why her ability to use her lasso to get the truth mirrored her inventor's life, you have to read this book! So many of the storylines and characters are thinly veiled realities of their lives. Additionally, this is wonderful history of the struggle for women's rights, including hunger strikes, the founding of Planned Parenthood and the birth of The Pill. Recommended. 4.0