A Womans Dilemma: Mercy Otis Warren and the American Revolution

Mercy Otis Warren was one of the most accomplished women of the Revolutionary era. At a time when women had no political voice, her writings helped propel American colonists to revolt against Great Britain. She later published one of the first histories of the American Revolution. A devoted wife, mother, and daughter of patriots, Warren′s home became a salon for revolutionaries. At the same time, she became an advocate for women′s equality with men.  The second edition of A Woman’s Dilemma: Mercy Otis Warren and the American Revolution provides an engaging and accessible study of Warren′s life. Placing Warren in the social and political context of her time, the work examines Warren′s role as a wife and mother and traces her literary contributions to the patriot cause. Probing her complex relationship with patriot leaders such as John Adams, the work shows how Warren affirmed her identity as a woman while invading the traditionally male realm of politics.  The new edition features updated coverage of early American women′s history, a revised Bibliographical Essay, multiple period illustrations, and a timeline of Warren’s life. A new collection of chapter–end study questions encourages student reflection and critical thinking on particular topics. Rosemarie Zagarri, a well–known American historian, brings Mercy Otis Warren vividly to life, revealing the importance of an extraordinary historical figure who both fulfilled and transcended the conventional boundaries of womanhood.

Rosemarie Zagarri is University Professor and Professor of History at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She is the author of The Politics of Size: Representation in the United States, 1776–1850 (1987) and Revolutionary Backlash: Women and Politics in the Early American Republic (2007). She is also editor of David Humphreys’ “ Life of General Washington” with George Washington’s “Remarks” (1991).