From Plymouth to Parliament

Description

Nancy Astor, the first woman to take a seat in the British House of Commons, has been a fascinating subject for most of the twentieth century. Recognized for her efforts on behalf of women, remembered for her witty exchanges with Winston Churchill, and criticized for Fascist leanings, she was also a campaigner par excellence - winning seven consecutive elections over twenty-five years. Offering insights from a rhetorical perspective, From Plymouth to Parliament is the first in-depth exploration of Astor's initial parliamentary campaign in 1919. Karen J. Musolf reveals how Astor surmounted obstacles in creating an acceptable persona, gathering women voters, confronting opponents, chastising hecklers, and coping with an unruly press - no small feats for an American divorcee who married into the prominent Astor family. Musolf draws upon primary sources from the Astor archives and focuses on the dynamic interplay of voices heard throughout the campaign.

First Sentence

THE FIRST VISCOUNT ASTOR, William Waldorf, liked his status as peer of the realm, a member of the greater nobility and the House of Lords.

Subjects

Other Editions

• From Plymouth To Parliament: A Rhetorical History of Nancy Astor's 1919 CampaignHardcoverPalgrave Macmillan1998-12-15
• From Plymouth to ParliamentSt. Martin's Press1999