W H Channing

Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli W H Channing

The Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli was published in 1852, two years after Fuller's death. The 2 volume Memoirs were edited by Ralph Waldo Emerson, James Freeman Clarke, and William Henry Channing. Fuller was a journalist and critic and was active in the women's rights movement. Her book, Woman in the Nineteenth Century, was the first major feminist work in the United States. Yet, the Memoirs focus on Fuller's personality rather than her work. It tells of her early life, her parents, and her many travels, including trips to Europe. The Memoirs leave out the details of her personal relationships, with both her husband and an earlier man named James Nathan. The editors did not concern themselves with accuracy in the Memoirs as they believed interest in Fuller would only be short lived. However, The Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli was the best selling biography of the 1850s and 13 additional editions were produced by the end of the century.