Legends: Women Who Have
Changed the World Through the Eyes
of Great Women Writers by John
Miller
Beautiful Coffee Table Book
Although readers may quibble over how legendary a few of these subjects
are or the greatness of some of their literary portrayers, this glossy tome
deserves readers attention. Brief, punchy text is paired with arresting
black-and-white photos of a melange of remarkable women, such as Frida
Kahlo, Aung San Suu Kyi, Rachel Carson, Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir,
Marilyn Monroe, and Josephine Baker. The result is an unholy, but
thoroughly enjoyable, jostling throng where sex symbols rub elbows with
world leaders and artists spill drinks on reformers. Alma Guillermoprieto
emblazons the later years of mercurial modern dance pioneer Martha
Grahams life. Once a dance student at Grahams vaunted studio, she
remembers that as Martha wove through our ranks she would snarl, and

pinch and slap us, evidently enraged by our sloppy posture, our
dishevelment, our general lack of presence. Camille Paglia talks of what
Amelia Earhart meant to her as an American teenager in the early 1960s,
railing against restrictive sex roles while marooned in a desert of perky
blondes. Cynthia Ozick takes aim at Gertrude Stein, Joan Didion at
Georgia OKeefe, and Diane Ackerman at Beryl Markham. Margeretta
Mitchell recalls photographer Imogen Cunningham striding San Francisco
in her beaded cap and white bangs, proclaiming by her acts that it was
possible to grow old working; to maintain interest in life; to be wholly
oneself. Far from being fluff, many of these excerpts from longer writings
are as provocative and engaging as the legends they embellish.
--Francesca Coltrera
Personal Review: Legends: Women Who Have Changed the
World Through the Eyes of Great Women Writers by John Miller
After reading Legends 2 : Women Who Changed the World through the
Eyes of Great Women Writers by John Miller, Kirsten Miller (September
2004) my curiosity to know more about `the women who are considered
legendary' in our times, lead me to the original Legends by John Miller.
As my life is always inspired by those who `live their purpose' I was not
disappointed by John Miller's daring assemblage of writers to optimize in
words, their thoughts of contemporary iconic women from Golda Meir,
Bette Davis, Josephine Baker, Zora Neale Hurston, Helen Keller, to the
power of Georgia O'Keeffe, the bravery of Amelia Earhart, the beauty and
wit of Lucille Ball, to the omni-presence of Oprah Winfrey.
As I tackle my days of mountains and mountains of to do's, during my
mandated 3:00 mediation time, I read a page for renewal and inspiration to
tackle the next contract, the next segment of my radio show or write the
next review. Each well written snapshot of each of these heroic women is
pure energetic inspiration. Reading the shards of Ella Fitzgerald life,
reminds me of how far our world has come and how GOD has kept watch
over "women" who are the perpetual of the world (not the destroyers as
our gender counter part seem). The passions of Martha Stewart no matter
what is said, you can not tarnished her business greatness for turning the
mundane into an empire, (no matter what you think today).
As I continue to read, I want my daughter to now know these books,
Legends. I want her to know and revere the women who faced odds and
simply saw obstacles as `what you face in life.' Babe Didrikson Zaharias,
an Olympic Athlete, faced it all; controversy, cancer and unbelievable
discrimination to live her purpose. Anne Frank, has shown us that our
greatness will rise, no matter what the circumstances. Marion Anderson
exhibited that greatness will fulfill its purpose, no matter where; before a
segregated audience or from the Lincoln Memorial.
Women. We make the world revolve, we create new life, and we are the
reason for the term `a glass ceiling' being incorporating into modern
language. John Miller reminds us `women-you have to live with us
because you can not advance without us.'

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