The Imprisoned Guest: Samuel Howe and Laura Bridgman, the Original Deaf-Blind Girl
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.33 (906 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0374117381 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 341 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 0000-00-00 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
The resurrected story of a deaf-blind girl and the man who brought her out of silence. Philosophers, poets, educators, theologians, and early psychologists hailed Laura as a moral inspiration and a living laboratory for the most controversial ideas of the day. The Imprisoned Guest retrieves Laura Bridgman's forgotten life, placing it in the context of nineteenth-century American social, intellectual, and cultural history. But as the Civil War loomed and her girlish appeal faded, the public began to lose interest. By the time Laura died in 1889, she had been wholly eclipsed by the prettier, more ingratiating Helen Keller. She quickly became a major tourist attraction, and many influential writers and reformers visited her or wrote about her. In 1837, Samuel Gridley Howe, director of Boston's Perkins Institution for the Blind, heard about a bright, deaf-blind seven-year-old, the daughter of New
"Splendid Story, Fascinating History" according to Conrad Coleridge. The long-forgotten story of Laura Bridgman is riveting: She was the first deaf, blind and mute American to learn English and she did so through the ingenious efforts of Samuel Howe. If author Elisabeth Gitter had done nothing more than reintroduce this story to the world, her book would have been worthwhile. But Gitter does much more. Both Bridgman and Howe were enormously complicated, infinitely fascinating characters and their relationship was unprecedented in human experience (quite a statement, but it's true!). It is incredible, and in many ways, heart-wrenching, to watch their storybook relationship. "Sensitive and Well Written" according to Joanne & the Dogs. Elisabeth Gitter has introduced the 21st Century reader to Laura Bridgman, "the original deaf-blind girl" in her well written and sensitive portrayal of "this pitiful little girl" who "became the most celebrated child in (19th Century) America." Along with her teacher and mentor, Samuel Howe, founder of the first school for the blind in America, Laura became an inspiration for the indominability of the human spirit. Yet, as Gitter wisely and perceptively shows, the multi-faceted character behind Laura's public persona was often overlooked by Howe in his zeal to show the world that, in his words, "obstacl. D. Klevorn said Ah ,the whole story!. Great read packed with info. I've always wanted to know more about her, not just the vague references made in books about Keller and Sullivan.
With the education of a blind and deaf child, who had no recollection of language but a quick wit and ability to learn, he donned the role of a philanthropic Pygmalion. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.. From Publishers Weekly Samuel Howe, director of the Perkins Institution for the Blind, was caught up in the enlightenment fervor that swept Boston in the 1830s and '40sa period characterized by humanitarian and scientific zeal. Thousands flocked from all over the world to observe this intelligent, communicative and well-adjusted girlamong them Dickens and Darwin, both of whom wrote about her. 12 photos and illus. Although Bridgman's fame was later eclipsed by Helen Kel