The Queen of the Platform – by Susan Higginbotham – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States)

Note: I was given early access to THE QUEEN OF THE PLATFORM and am writing this review voluntarily. Thank you netgalley, Onslow Press, and Susan Higginbotham. Scheduled Publication: March 12, 2024.

Honestly, before reading this book I had never heard of its protagonist, a Jewish woman who played quite a prominent role in the fight for human rights in the United States. Meet Ernestine Rose (1810-1892). Born the daughter of a Rabbi in Poland, Rose was highly educated, which was uncommon for women of her era. She traveled, spending time in Belgium, France, and England before moving with her husband to the U.S. Awarded four stars on Goodreads.

Once there, Rose becomes a prominent public speaker supporting women’s rights, suffrage, and abolition. Along the way, meeting many of the heavy thinkers and activists of her day: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, William Lloyd Garrison, and Fredrick Douglass. Most of whom show up in this novel.

Things don’t always go well for Rose. At this time, it’s not generally considered proper for a woman to do public speaking of any kind. Women’s rights and anti-slavery work aren’t universally popular in the mid 19th century, especially in the Southern states. Plus, Rose proclaims herself an atheist in a country that’s overtly Christian. So, she sees her share of name-calling, anti-semitism, prejudice, and hostility. Not to mention personal tragedy.

In THE QUEEN OF THE PLATFORM: A NOVEL OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACTIVIST ERNESTINE ROSE author Susan Higginbotham recounts Rose’s entire life, which I found quite interesting. Especially not having heard of her before this book. In fact, I often find historical fiction the most enjoyable when it helps me learn about someone new. I also appreciated this portrait of American life in the mid 1800s, especially the years leading up to the American Civil War (1861-65).

I did begin to find, about midway though, that some of the details around Rose’s countless speaking engagements (at times long passages from her talks are quoted), her conflicts with peers, and travels around the country slowed the book down a bit. But not enough to keep me from finishing.

This book is a good way to learn more about this country’s early feminists but what I found most interesting was reading about how the abolition movement became separated from the feminist movement, even though both are closely linked to human rights and freedom.

More about the author, Susan Higginbotham.

You may be interested in my review of another historical novel by Higginbotham: THE STOLEN CROWN: THE SECRET MARRIAGE THAT FOREVER CHANGED THE FATE OF ENGLAND.