• His accomplishments in textile manufacturing were known throughout the world.
• His dedication to American patriotism and his extreme investment in the work of wool manufacturing gave rise to accomplishments that were acknowledged worldwide.
• His wealth, position, and power of influence rivaled those of other great leaders of the Gilded Age.
But this great man became lost to history. Why?
His work-driven philosophy of life, his obsessive drive to acquire and develop, his internal struggle with grief and anguish, his lost ethnic background, his need to rule alone, and his tragic and socially unacceptable manner of death were all part of the identity and life story of William Madison Wood.
Bob Fournier unpacks Wood’s story with finesse, showing how this esteemed man fell prey to the material trappings of a life of excessive labor, power, and wealth, and the inability to temper these forces for well-being.
While Wood was a man true to his era, his life story offers much to consider in today’s world. The characters may have changed, but many of the issues remain the same—race, ethnicity, autocracy, abuse of power, and immigration. Fournier enables William Wood to speak from the grave in a way he was unable to speak in life about himself, his relationships with others, and his relationship with the world.
• His accomplishments in textile manufacturing were known throughout the world.
• His dedication to American patriotism and his extreme investment in the work of wool manufacturing gave rise to accomplishments that were acknowledged worldwide.
• His wealth, position, and power of influence rivaled those of other great leaders of the Gilded Age.
But this great man became lost to history. Why?
His work-driven philosophy of life, his obsessive drive to acquire and develop, his internal struggle with grief and anguish, his lost ethnic background, his need to rule alone, and his tragic and socially unacceptable manner of death were all part of the identity and life story of William Madison Wood.
Bob Fournier unpacks Wood’s story with finesse, showing how this esteemed man fell prey to the material trappings of a life of excessive labor, power, and wealth, and the inability to temper these forces for well-being.
While Wood was a man true to his era, his life story offers much to consider in today’s world. The characters may have changed, but many of the issues remain the same—race, ethnicity, autocracy, abuse of power, and immigration. Fournier enables William Wood to speak from the grave in a way he was unable to speak in life about himself, his relationships with others, and his relationship with the world.
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Hardcover: 978-1-4602-9168-9
Paperback: 978-1-4602-9169-6 eBook: 978-1-4602-9170-2 |
While Sylvia Plath’s life was short-lived, her accomplishments were immense, and two college archives now house her writings and valued possessions. Raised in an era when women were taught and expected to be subservient to men, Sylvia wanted more.
She seemed to have all that anyone would need to succeed and be happy; however, something was wrong—seriously wrong. As she reached out for help in her time of desperation, Sylvia found a mental health system that was itself troubled and desperate for change. Although the system helped, it also traumatized her. While little was known about posttraumatic stress at the time, Dr. Fournier argues that it became a major factor in the life of this Golden Lady. Trauma and the Golden Lady shows what it is like for a person to struggle every day to keep their demons at bay and stay sane, while living with severe mental health problems. Over and over, Sylvia worked to perfect herself and avoid falling into a bottomless hole of nothingness and despair. With passion and a heavy heart, she focused on both these goals until the very end. Ultimately, Sylvia Plath’s personality development and life struggles, along with the effects of the trauma events she experienced, contributed to a suicidal movement that led to her death. While Sylvia’s demise left a wake that affected the lives of many, helping some and hurting others, she was truly a woman to be known and remembered. |
Reviews for Trauma And The Golden Lady
“I found the discussion of those left behind to be particularly poignant… I can’t help but think that this exploration will help other survivors move on-no, move forward-with their lives.”
“This was a fascinating read, to look at Plath’s life through the lenses of trauma and mental illness.”
“I love the (author’s) voice… a uniquely wise voice that I could listen to (or read) for hours.”
“This was a fascinating read, to look at Plath’s life through the lenses of trauma and mental illness.”
“I love the (author’s) voice… a uniquely wise voice that I could listen to (or read) for hours.”