A cultural history of wonder woman traces the characters creation and enduring popularity, drawing on interviews and archival research to reveal the pivotal role of feminism in shaping her sevendecade story. Wonder woman, lepore argues, is the missing link in the history of the struggle for womens. The freaky, fabulous, feminist secret history of wonder woman jill lepores new book about wonder woman reveals the unconventional life of her creator, william moulton marston, who invented the. The life and opinions of jane franklin, 20, was the product of the suffragist, feminist, and birth control movements of the 1900s and 1910s and became a source of the womens liberation and feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s. In comic books, superpowers are almost always secret, the alter ego hiding them behind the plainclothes disguise. The secret history of wonder woman is an absolutely fascinating nonfiction book about the man who created wonder woman and the many women who inspired him and who, in many cases, directly contributed to wonder woman in concept, story, and design. The book is a wellresearched biography of the quirky man who invented the wonder woman comic strip and character. Of the hundreds of comic book superheroes created in the nineteenthirties and forties, only these three have lasted, uninterrupted. Drawing from an astonishing trove of documents, including neverbeforeseen private papers, harvard historian and new yorker staff writer jill lepore reveals the fascinating family story that sparked the invention of the most popular. Unlike every other superhero, she also has a secret history. The secret history of wonder woman paperback cellar.
The secret history of wonder woman off the beaten page. The freaky, fabulous, feminist secret history of wonder. Jun 24, 2017 jill lepore has a fantastic book, the secret history of wonder woman, which gives an in depth glimpse into how this iconic character was created and the effect her creator, dr masten, has on her. Wonder woman, lepore argues, is the missing link in the history of the struggle for womens rightsa chain of events that begins with the womens suffrage campaigns of the early 1900s and ends with the troubled place of feminism a century later. Courtesy of mike sekowskydc entertainment meet diana prince, the woman who has done it all. She fights for womens rights, access to birth control, free love, and the importance of polyamory. Like every other superhero, wonder woman has a secret identity. Apr 14, 2017 the secret history of wonder woman is about sex, politics, love, loss, feminism, and a family.
Jill lepores secret history of wonder woman the new york. It illuminates the struggle for womens rights during the 20th century by focussing on the impact of certain individuals who were part of an extraordinary extended family. Jill lepore born august 27, 1966 is an american historian. But, really, the name of wonder womans creator was the least of her secrets. Her new book, the secret history of wonder woman, ties together the marston family, comics, the suffrage and feminist movement, family life, and how it all directly relates to the present day. Ambassador of truth brings together a breathtaking collage of imagesfrom the dc comic books, the 1970sera television show starring lynda carter, her numerous animated appearances, the june 2017 wonder woman feature film called the best dc universe film yet, and the november 2017 film justice league.
Wonder woman wore red bustier, blue underpants, kneehigh red leather boots and a golden tiara. Now the world is ready for you, goes one of the lines in the funky, hornheavy opening theme song of the tv seri. The secret history of wonder woman off the beaten page travel. Wonder woman in her many forms off the beaten page travel. The secret history of wonder woman addeddate 20170619 02. Oct 28, 2014 the surprising origins of a 20thcentury goddess. The secret history of wonder woman combines biography. Lepore writes of the sex cults and love units that. Wonder woman is arguably the most famous female superhero out there one with a colorful history through the years. Jill lepore has clearly done her research, and this is a hefty book, clocking in at 410 pages. She writes about american history, law, literature, and politics. Alison bechdel, the author of fun home, among other works, said, in the nexus of feminism and popular culture, jill lepore has found a. Comic readers have known for years that marsden invented the lie detector, of his unconventional love life, that wonder womans bracelets and lasso and her being tied up in most of the early comics are basically bdsm representations, and the characters ties to early feminism. She is the david woods kemper 41 professor of american history at harvard university and a staff writer at the new yorker, where she has contributed since 2005.
The secret history of wonder woman also reveals a great. In the nexus of feminism and popular culture, jill lepore has found a revelatory chapter of american history. Oct 29, 2014 jill lepores new book, the secret history of wonder woman, deftly combines biography and cultural history to trace the entwined stories of marston, wonder woman, and 20thcentury feminism. Wonder woman was a product of the suffragist, feminist, and birth control movements of the 1900s and 1910s and became a source of the womens liberation and feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Wonder woman is no ordinary comicbook character because. The secret history of wonder woman livros na amazon. As jill lepore reports in her fascinating new work of nonfiction, the secret history of wonder woman, everything.
Harvard historian and new yorker staff writer jill lepore has uncovered an astonishing trove of documents, including. In this nonfiction book, jill lepore tells three separate histories that all intertwine and intersect with wonder woman, one of the most popular comic book characters of alltime. Superman debuted in 1938, batman in 1939, wonder woman in 1941. At the same time, marston frankly avowed his debt to sangers feminism and claimed her 1920 book, woman and the new race, as the foundation for the philosophy of wonder woman.
The secret history of wonder woman, by jill lepore. To be clear, were talking missy elliott kindof freak here. Jill lepore has written a very good history wonder woman that would be ideal for book clubs or discussion groups. The secret history of wonder woman is a richly interwoven and illustrated dual biography of wonder woman and marston marston gets more than half the book, which suggests looking more.
The secret history of wonder woman combines biography and. The secret history of wonder woman by jill lepore the. Dec 14, 2014 the secret history of wonder woman is a richly interwoven and illustrated dual biography of wonder woman and marston marston gets more than half the book, which suggests looking more. Wonder woman debuted in allstar comics that same year, and then, on the cover of a new comic book, sensation comics in 1942. An interview with jill lepore, author of the secret.
The secret history of wonder woman by jill lepore books. The history of wonder womans secret comic book identity. Oct 27, 2014 what does wonder woman, the superhero who first appeared in 1941, have to do with polyamory, pessaries, and the polygraph. The character is a founding member of the justice league. The secret history of wonder woman epilogue summary. Their relationship grew out of marstons theories of love, which he explored in his book, emotions of normal people, coauthored by marston, holloway, and byrne, yet only credited to him p. While teaching at tufts, marston met a student named olive byrne.
In america, her secret identity was a nurse named diana prince. The man behind wonder woman was inspired by both suffragists. But most kinds of secrets dont give any real power to their holders. In 1943, marston wrote a wonder woman story called battle for womanhood. Superman appeared in 1938, batman in 1939, wonder woman in 1941.
The secret history of wonder woman was the top pick by the common book selection committee, which makes recommendations to vcu provost gail hackett, ph. Chapter 22, titled suprema, describes marstons entry into the comic book industry. He hadnt mentioned wonder woman as a specific interest, but he had mentioned psychology, and the book had taught me that the creator of wonder woman was an academic trained in psychology and law who also happened. Jill lepores new book, the secret history of wonder woman, deftly combines biography and cultural history to trace the entwined stories of marston, wonder woman, and 20thcentury feminism. The secret history of wonder woman is its own magic lasso, one that compels history to finally tell the truth about wonder womanand compels the rest of us to behold it. Jul 10, 2015 the most popular female comic book hero of all time has a secret past, as revealed in jill lepores bestselling book, the secret history of wonder woman, out this week in paperback. Aside from superman and batman, no superhero has lasted as long or commanded so vast and wildly passionate a following as wonder woman. The secret feminist history of wonder woman when wonder woman made her debut in 1941, she was the first female superhero to have her own comic book. Jun 02, 2017 superman appeared in 1938, batman in 1939, wonder woman in 1941.
The secret history of wonder woman im reading a book called the secret history of wonder woman, by jill lepore, about the creator of wonder woman, william moulton marston, and the social, cultural and personal forces that influenced that creation. Marston, internationally known as an expert on truthhe invented the lie detector testlived a life of secrets, only to spill them on the pages of wonder woman. Wonder woman, writes lepore historyharvard univ book of ages. Topics history, comics, graphic novels, feminist theory collection folkscanomy. Jill lepore reveals the secret history of wonder woman cbr. The first and most important thing to say is that the secret history of wonder woman is a splendid work of history, one of the three or four best books ever written on comics and a crucial contribution to the history of feminism. The secret history of wonder woman by jill lepore, paperback. This study guide consists of approximately 63 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the secret history of wonder woman. Jun 20, 2016 i immediately began telling him about the latest book i finished, called the secret history of wonder woman 2014 by jill lepore. Wonder woman is the most popular female comicbook superhero of all time. Wonder womans creation story is wilder than you could ever. Wonder woman is a fictional superhero appearing in american comic books published by dc comics. The secret history of wonder woman by jill lepore smart. On paradise island, she was known as princess diana, the daughter of the queen of the amazons.
The secret history of wonder woman is a riveting read thats hard to put down, and one that will interest not just superhero and comics aficionados, but. A riveting work of historical detection revealing that the origin of wonder woman, one of the worlds most iconic superheroes, hides within it a fascinating family storyand a crucial history of twentiethcentury feminism harvard historian and new yorker staff writer jill lepore has uncovered an astonishing trove of documents, including the neverbeforeseen private papers of william moulton marston, wonder womans creator. Dec 28, 2014 o utside her comic book fanbase, the 40s cartoon character wonder woman is surely more appreciated by the lay person, when known at all, as a fancydress opportunity. In 2014, jill lepores the secret history of wonder woman explored the unconventional domestic arrangements of marston and his family. The paperback of the the secret history of wonder woman by jill lepore at. Its also a history of feminism from the suffragette movement into the 1950s it touches. The true story of wonder womans marston menage a trois. Wonder woman is an ongoing american comic book series featuring the dc comics superhero wonder woman and occasionally other superheroes as its protagonist. The film is reportedly not based on the book the secret history of wonder woman.
Like any superhero, wonder woman has a pretty complicated origin story. October 26, 2014 jill lepores new book about wonder woman reveals the unconventional life of her creator, william moulton. Wonder woman is the most popular female comic book superhero of all time. Jan 26, 2015 to read the secret history of wonder woman. Here are some of the book s most fascinating revelations. The secret history of wonder woman is a terrific expose. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. Jill lepore reveals the secret history of wonder woman. The secret history of wonder woman internet archive. Its also a history of feminism from the suffragette movement into the 1950s it touches briefly on the 1960s and.
Jill lepores secret history of wonder woman the new. Key to the success of the book is lepores stellar detective work, her almost sherlockholmesian ability to ferret. An interview with jill lepore, author of the secret history. Jill lepores new book, the secret history of wonder woman, is a long. The secret history of wonder woman, by jill lepore the new. It opens with mars, the god of war, angry that so many american women are helping with the war effort. She was created by william moulton marston, a psychologist with a ph. O utside her comic book fanbase, the 40s cartoon character wonder woman is surely more appreciated by the lay person, when known at all, as a fancydress opportunity.
The wonder woman title has been published by dc comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986. That time, the character was drawn by an artist named harry peter. In fact, robinson has expressed some skepticism about claims author jill lepore made in that book. The secret history of wonder woman chapters 2224 summary. The secret history of wonder woman a riveting work of historical detection revealing that the origins of one of the worlds most iconic superheroes hides within it a fascinating family storyand a. Read on for a list of facts to impress your fellow moviegoers and for more, check out jill lepores excellent book the secret history of wonder woman, especially if youre interested in additional. The secret history of wonder woman quotes by jill lepore. Apr 11, 2017 wonder woman is arguably the most famous female superhero out there one with a colorful history through the years. The freaky, fabulous, feminist secret history of wonder woman. He was known as well as the inventor of the lie detector. Born out of both feminism and misogyny, diana prince was the creation of psychologist dr. He successfully hid an unusual hive home life while in plain sight as a minor celebrity. This book has been really well researched by a historian, jill lepore, who gained access to material that.
And as jill lepore details in the secret history of wonder woman, that history is fascinating. Wonder womans secrets in context the comics journal. To tell the truth like almost every other comic book super hero, wonder woman had a secret identity. The secret history of wonder woman is about sex, politics, love, loss, feminism, and a family. She also happens to have one of the most interesting backstories of any character in comic book history, both on the page and behind. I immediately began telling him about the latest book i finished, called the secret history of wonder woman 2014 by jill lepore. The secret history of wonder woman is a fascinating read. Learning the secret history of wonder woman the bookshelf. Wonder womans creation story is wilder than you could. Wonder woman is one of the most iconic superheroes of all time. Pdf the secret history of wonder woman download read.
The secret history of wonder woman is as racy, as improbable, as awesomely righteous, and as filled with curious devices as an episode of the comic book itself. The secret history of wonder woman by jill lepore goodreads. Marston, internationally known as an expert on truthhe invented the. The good doctor had been bought in by dc the famed comics powerhouse to create a female superhero that would silence critics who called dc sexist.