The Public Years of Sarah and Angelina Grimke

Sarah Moore Grimke and Angelina Emily Grimke were the first women in America coming from a southern slave-holding family to speak publicly on behalf of the abolition of slavery. Creating a stir of controversy soon afterwards during the 1830s especially with the force of their testimony before the Massachusetts State Legislature, they soon found themselves defending publicly and at length the right of women to speak on moral and political issues and on the end of the subordination of women. The editor of this collection of eloquent political writings, Larry Ceplair, has written a critical introduction situating the Grimkes’ in an historical and political context in which he describes the significance of their thought and work. Of special interest is the inclusion of writings documenting the Grimke sisters activities that preceded by 11 years the first woman’s rights convention in America, held at Seneca Falls, N.Y., in 1848. Most of the Grimke sisters writings are out of print today. Mr. Ceplair’s efforts will be greatly appreciated by those interested in the history of feminist theory, antebellum history.