The Agitators

Praise for The Agitators “This collective biography draws out the distinct voices of its characters while molding them into a rich ensemble.” —New York Times Book Review “Wickenden, executive editor of the New Yorker, does an almost perfect job of braiding together the stories of three very different women.” —Los Angeles Times “The Agitators is an impressive narrative of three women who were at the center of a burgeoning movement. Their trailblazing path is captured and related deftly by the author, their triumphs and tragedies narrated emphatically for a modern audience. All three women lived and breathed for the freedom of all men and women, selflessly giving as much as they were capable. An A+ historical narrative.” —San Francisco Book Review “Wickenden does a brilliant job of weaving all the complicated threads together, telling a compelling story that we thought we knew well. This is history at its best: personal, powerful, and inspiring.” —Marissa Moss, New York Journal of Books “An epic and intimate history… . Wickenden’s commitment to keeping her trio in the frame and in focus showcases prodigious narrative control. The Agitators is a masterpiece, not least, of structure… . . Entwining these three asymmetrical lives as deftly as Wickenden does proves illuminating.” —Jane Kamensky, New York Times Book Review “Absorbing and richly rewarding … . [Wickenden] traces the Auburn women’s lives with intelligence, compassion, and verve … [and her] assessment of the era leading up to the Civil War will resonate with readers in our own fractious era.” —Melanie Kirkpatrick, Wall Street Journal “She brings a reporter’s eye for detail to this complex history… [and] invites readers to take a closer look at the path of American progress and the women who guided it.” —Carla Jean Whitley, BookPage “Told with literary flare, Dorothy Wickenden’s The Agitators sheds some much-needed light on the lives and passions of a small circle of abolitionists: Harriet Tubman, Martha Wright, and Frances Seward.” —Bustle “New Yorker executive editor Wickenden brings three fascinating women to life in rich, humanizing detail … Wickenden pulls this history out of the dry dustiness of fact and adds color and warmth to its retelling. The women of our shared past deserve more treatments like this.” —Booklist “Riveting… . [Wickenden] weaves [these] stories together with gravity and humor in a narrative so tightly knit it reads like accomplished literary fiction… . The Agitators will move you, and it will make you sad. So much of what convulsed the country in the 19th century remains with us: mob violence, virulent racism and an appalling disregard for human dignity. But there’s another message: People of fierce and heartfelt principles can bend history to their will. If you’re an agitator, even a quiet one, read this book.” —Mary Ann Gwinn, The Star TribunePraise for The Agitators “This collective biography draws out the distinct voices of its characters while molding them into a rich ensemble.” —New York Times Book Review “Wickenden, executive editor of the New Yorker, does an almost perfect job of braiding together the stories of three very different women.” —Los Angeles Times “The Agitators is an impressive narrative of three women who were at the center of a burgeoning movement. Their trailblazing path is captured and related deftly by the author, their triumphs and tragedies narrated emphatically for a modern audience. All three women lived and breathed for the freedom of all men and women, selflessly giving as much as they were capable. An A+ historical narrative.” —San Francisco Book Review “Wickenden does a brilliant job of weaving all the complicated threads together, telling a compelling story that we thought we knew well. This is history at its best: personal, powerful, and inspiring.” —Marissa Moss, New York Journal of Books “An epic and intimate history… . Wickenden’s commitment to keeping her trio in the frame and in focus showcases prodigious narrative control. The Agitators is a masterpiece, not least, of structure… . . Entwining these three asymmetrical lives as deftly as Wickenden does proves illuminating.” —Jane Kamensky, New York Times Book Review “Absorbing and richly rewarding … . [Wickenden] traces the Auburn women’s lives with intelligence, compassion, and verve … [and her] assessment of the era leading up to the Civil War will resonate with readers in our own fractious era.” —Melanie Kirkpatrick, Wall Street Journal “She brings a reporter’s eye for detail to this complex history… [and] invites readers to take a closer look at the path of American progress and the women who guided it.” —Carla Jean Whitley, BookPage “Told with literary flare, Dorothy Wickenden’s The Agitators sheds some much-needed light on the lives and passions of a small circle of abolitionists: Harriet Tubman, Martha Wright, and Frances Seward.” —Bustle “New Yorker executive editor Wickenden brings three fascinating women to life in rich, humanizing detail … Wickenden pulls this history out of the dry dustiness of fact and adds color and warmth to its retelling. The women of our shared past deserve more treatments like this.” —Booklist “Riveting… . [Wickenden] weaves [these] stories together with gravity and humor in a narrative so tightly knit it reads like accomplished literary fiction… . The Agitators will move you, and it will make you sad. So much of what convulsed the country in the 19th century remains with us: mob violence, virulent racism and an appalling disregard for human dignity. But there’s another message: People of fierce and heartfelt principles can bend history to their will. If you’re an agitator, even a quiet one, read this book.” —Mary Ann Gwinn, The Star Tribune

Dorothy Wickenden is the author of Nothing Daunted and The Agitators and has been the executive editor of The New Yorker since January 1996. She also writes for the magazine and is the moderator of its weekly podcast The Political Scene. A former Nieman Fellow at Harvard, Wickenden was national affairs editor at Newsweek from 1993-1995, and before that was the longtime executive editor at The New Republic. She lives with her husband in Westchester, New York.

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