A lovely story about an interesting woman. The characters and setting were very well done. I enjoyed reading this book.

Margaret Fuller, is an extraordinary person who I never heard of before reading this book. While the writing started off a bit slow, the prose was descriptive and engaging.

This is a remarkable and absorbing novel based on the life of the brilliant and fascinating Margaret Fuller (1810-1850), American Transcendentalist, colleague of Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and Alcott, and one of the foremost early American feminist writers. She was the first editor of the Transcendentalist journal, The Dial, traveled extensively in the U.S., worked with Horace Greeley on his newspaper (New-York Tribune) and was the first female foreign correspondent, paid (by Greeley), to travel to Europe and send stories back to America.

In her 20s, Fuller quickly acquired a reputation as a tireless advocate of women’s rights and education for all regardless of gender or race. She wrote about her extensive travels in the U.S. and Europe, where she made the acquaintance of William Wordsworth, George Sand, Frederic Chopin, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, among many others. She also met and married an Italian nobleman, Marchese Giovanni Ossoli, with whom she had a son. She and her husband were both involved with the Italian revolutionaries working for a unified Italy and were in extreme danger during the siege of Rome by the French in 1849.

The family escaped a devastated Rome, spent time in Florence, but eventually decided to return to America where Fuller was to publish her book about the Italian revolutionaries’ fight for a unified Italy, which she considered her greatest achievement. Near the end of their transatlantic crossing, Fuller, her husband, and young son perished in a tragic shipwreck literally yards off the coast of Fire Island, New York. The only copy of her manuscript was also lost.

The book is consistently fascinating, well written, thoroughly researched, and well paced. I was captivated on page one and my interest never flagged. I was so glad to have learned about Margaret Fuller. Incidentally, decades ago, I took a graduate seminar called “Emerson, Thoreau, and Their Circle.” I don’t recall any mention of Margaret Fuller. Figures, huh? I’m so thankful to Allison Pataki for bringing Fuller’s story to new generations — to women, in particular. In reading this book, I also learned, or became reacquainted with, a great deal of history in a most engaging form.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Author’s Note at the end, in which Ms. Pataki discusses the research she did for this book, explains what things were true, and what exactly she slightly altered for the sake of a suitable narrative. I had wondered about some of those things during the read. For instance, did Margaret Fuller really have nightmares about drowning all her life? Yes, she did. I had assumed that this had been added to enhance the fiction, but no, it is apparently the truth, and I was glad to know that.

This book is a delightfully smooth read, free of common grammar goofs and typos. Take it from me, a professional editor. (I spotted only one typo. In Chapter 36, where the word imagine should be imagined.)

This is Pataki’s 7th historical novel and I will certainly seek out her others.

Sincerest thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this terrific book!

Immaculately researched. I never knew anything about Margaret Fuller before reading this book and she was truly a fantastic woman. Beautifully written and filled with knowledge.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Allison Pataki is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical fiction authors, particularly for stories of women the world should know more about. I’d never heard of Margaret Fuller, but I’m fascinated by her after reading this book.

To quote from the official blurb as it best summarizes: “this is a story of an inspiring trailblazer, a woman who loved big and lived even bigger—a fierce adventurer who transcended the rigid roles ascribed to women and changed history, all on her own terms”

Margaret Fuller was a truly inspiring woman. Nearly every other historical figure mentioned in this book was a name I recognized, and it is amazing to me that with all she accomplished, championed, and inspired, that I hadn’t even heard Margaret’s name before. I don’t pretend to be a wealth of historical knowledge, but she lived a life that should have been studied at the very least alongside her contemporaries.

As a small sampling of who she was, Margaret was a journalist, translator, editor, first female foreign correspondent in American journalism, and a women’s rights advocate who essentially inspired the entire movement. She was forward thinking in a time when women were expected to be anything but. She was vocal in her beliefs of equality for all. She eschewed societal norms, not because she desired a life of solitude but simply because she refused to settle for less than all-consuming feeling with someone who respected and accepted her mind and voice. She was far ahead of her time, and it’s a wonder to think of what more she could have accomplished had her life not been cut tragically short.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This might be my new favorite of Allison Pataki's. I had never heard of Margaret Fuller (as Pataki points out in her Author's Note few people have), and it is truly amazing how much of the story that Pataki presents is actually factual, because it truly reads as amazing fiction. It was such an easy read (a feat for what is esentially a nearly 400 page biography) and interesting story, and it was so much fun to have appearances by so many iconic historical figures (Thoreau, Emerson, Alcott, Browning, the list goes on....). The buzz is totally justified on this one - a must read!

After loving Alison Pataki’s novel about Marjorie Merriweather Post, I was eager to read her next offering. Finding Margaret Fuller gave me insight into a woman I had never heard of before. (Apologies). Having read this book, I now want to read her works and a biography. She was truly a creative mind. This story is ripe with other literary legends: Emerson, Poe, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Alcott, Browning. It reminded me of a precursor to Dorothy Parker’s round table. I could picture the Hawthornes rushing down Connecticut Turnpike to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s house. A wonderful story about an amazing author!

Finding Margaret Fuller, by Allison Pataki.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

This memoir-as-novel, written in the voice of Margaret Fuller, introduces us to the fascinating 19th-century woman whose words and actions shaped the early women’s movement in America.

As a writer, editor, journalist and speaker, Margaret Fuller was prized by her peers, both male and female. Her “conversations” in the late 1830’s were a coveted series of discussions with groups of women aimed at opening their minds to more unconventional ways of thinking and sharing their own insights and opinions. Her travels from her native New England to the Midwest and then to Europe, brought to the public stories of ordinary lives in a time of rapid growth, change, and reform. She was one of the founders of the Transcendentalist Movement, and wrote of her ponderings on what comes from human nature and what from society, and how individuals could find their full potential.

Her untimely death – with which this book begins – only heightened her mystique, as friends mourned her and searched for her last manuscript, a description of the Roman Revolution of 1849, which she believed to be the best work she had done.

Allison Pataki is a skilled and experienced novelist whose subjects are both real and fictional women from the past. Her writing is vivid and engaging. She grounds Margaret’s life in the reality of being a single woman, responsible for supporting herself, her mother, and siblings at a time when this was rare and difficult. However, I found off-putting her injection of romance into the story, especially at the beginning – much about Ralph Waldo Emerson’s blue-grey eyes and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s bright green ones – and the suggestions of emotional and sexual tension between Margaret and these and other men. Despite this, Ms. Pataki leads us to an exceptional but lesser-known woman, and one that I now will want to read about in non-fiction.

A woman ahead of her time, Margaret Fuller’s association with Ralph Waldo Emerson was the first step along her journey as a woman of letters. She was surrounded by a cadre of the most well respected persons of literary prowess. Ere long, she would share tea with Nathaniel Hawthorne, share deep thoughts with Henry David Thoreau and dine with the family Alcott. A dedicated transcendental devotee, as were her peers, Ms. Fuller often sought their company and guidance. Her desire for learning and grand adventures led her into the company of Edgar Allan Poe and other scions of NYC culture. Ultimately, Margaret finds herself surrounded by the cream of the European socialites. She rubbed elbows with a who’s who of letters, music and royalty. Margaret Fuller more than found her true self in soirées and salons, she became an enlightened member of the highest eschelon of learned society.

I loved this historical fictional novel about the too-short life of Margaret Fuller. I had never really heard of her before and I was happy to learn about this lost-in-history heroine who paved the way for generations to come. Highly recommend for lovers of books like the Personal Librarian. It’s a fun way to bring “herstory” to life.

Finding Margaret Fuller
by Allison Pataki
March 19. 2024
Random House
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A “sweeping” (Entertainment Weekly) novel of America’s forgotten leading lady, the central figure of a movement that defined a nation—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post
I had never heard of this remarkable woman and I really wanted to like it based on the cover and description alone. However, I found it long winded and slightly self absorbed even if she was a fascinating woman it just wasn't an enjoyable read for me.
3 stars

Thank you to the author, the publisher and the author for this advanced reader copy. I wanted to love this book for the cover art alone. Alas, it wasn’t for me. This soon to be released piece of historical fiction starts in 1836 Massachusetts. Margaret Fuller is not like most of the other women of her day. She is referred to as the most well-read person in America. She’s very well-educated, and she can’t be bothered with trivial matters like marriage, a home and children. She’s a frequent visitor to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s home and she is known to be his muse. She has lofty discussions with Hawthorne and Thoreau. She meets and befriends young Louisa May Alcott. She is the heart and mind of the Transcendentalist movement. She eventually moves on to being a journalist and an author. She is sent overseas and becomes the first female foreign correspondent. There in Italy Margaret falls in love and has a baby. I found the last part of the novel the most interesting as Margaret is in Rome during a revolution. Impressive woman, however I found her character to be self-absorbed. I had never heard of Margaret Fuller, and it certainly was an interesting read. But eh. Long winded.

A gorgeous count of historical fiction narrating the remarkable accomplishments of Margaret Fuller. Going into this book, I can honestly say I have never heard of Margaret Fuller. Have you? However, you, like myself, have probably heard the names Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allen Poe, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Walt Whitman, and William Wordsworth quite frequently. So how is Margaret Fuller intertwined with those greats? Fuller was a teacher, an author, an editor, an advocate for feminism, and an overall legacy. For 19th-century history lovers, this is a MUST READ! Her life and impact on history as we know it is quite remarkable. The author´s note is not to be missed!
Read this if you enjoy:
Historical fiction
Strong female protagonist
Transcendental time frame
Women ahead of her times
An absolute five-star read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Allison Pataki

First, THANK YOU to NetGalley, Ballentine Books and one of my favorite authors…Allison Pataki.

Once again, this author has opened my eyes to a person I had no idea about! Margaret Fuller, a woman who set the world on fire for women.

“A woman is a human, and as such, has a right to know her own worth, to pursue self-realization and satisfying work, same as any man.”

Margaret Fuller was a writer, and woman, ahead of her time. She and her friends (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorn and Bronson Alcott) were part of the Transcendental movement. They started a newspaper called, ‘The Dial’, that supported, even fostered, the free expression of thoughts and ideas. Margaret also started to host conversation parties with women so they could speak unencumbered.
“As women, we should feel comfortable expressing ourselves, even disagreeing with others. We are entitled, each one of us, to our own thoughts and opinions.”
Margaret was the first woman that was allowed to study in Harvard’s library. She was also the first woman publisher for, The New York Tribune…all of this was done back in the late 1800’s!! (And yet, I knew nothing of Margaret Fuller until this book!!)

When Margaret’s boss (Horace Greeley) sends her overseas to Europe, she becomes the first female correspondent, making history and mingling with more like-minded people (Frederic Chopin, George Sand and more). It is in Rome, though, where Margaret finds her passion. She falls in love with and takes as her lover Marchese Giovanni Angelo Ossoli. At 37, she becomes a mother and countess. However, her passion and fight for Italy’s unification, becomes the backdrop for the novel she feels America needs to read.

“I know this work is important, not just for me, and not just to honor the Romans. This work is important for American’s. For all FREEDOM loving people to see how Roman’s fought. To see that FREEDOM is something we ought NEVER TO TAKE FOR GRANTED.”

I love historical fiction! I love learning about people and places I know nothing about. This story comes at a time where women need hope, strength and courage! This book was a testament to the women who fought for our freedoms, and to keep up the fight.

Fantastic Read!!!!

Finding Margaret Fuller vividly brings to life the extraordinary journey of Margaret Fuller, a pioneering woman who relentlessly championed women’s rights and broader humanitarian causes. Her story, set against the backdrop of her remarkable achievements as a writer, unfolds with engaging first-person narration that captures Fuller’s spirited and trailblazing character.

The narrative begins in 1836 in Concord, Massachusetts, where Fuller receives an invitation from Ralph Waldo Emerson to visit him and his family at his Bush estate. Emerson, a profound thinker and staunch supporter of writers, shares enriching conversations with Fuller during their afternoon walks, discussing his essays and her insightful responses. Departing from this idyllic setting leaves Fuller reluctant to leave.

In Boston, Fuller takes a tutoring job to support her mother financially. Despite the loneliness of her single room in the bustling city, her life brightens when Bronson Alcott visits and offers her a position at his prestigious Temple School. However, Fuller grapples with whether teaching is her true calling, as it seems to drain her energy, conflicting with her passion for writing and thinking. Moreover, she faces societal judgment for choosing personal freedom over traditional commitments to marriage, a household, and children.

Determined to follow her own path, Fuller creates a women-only literary salon, and becomes an editor at The Dial magazine, followed by the New York Tribune. Her studies at the Harvard library mark her as the first woman to breach its walls, challenging societal norms with her written words. Fuller’s fight for women’s rights, the emancipation of slaves, and fair treatment of laborers exemplifies her defiance of the conventions of her time.

Fuller’s adventures continue as she becomes the first female foreign news correspondent. Her travels take her to France, where she mingles with luminaries like Frederic Chopin and George Sand, and to Rome, where she falls in love with a count.

The narrative’s first-person perspective lends authenticity and depth to Fuller’s voice, making her story not only believable but also deeply inspiring. Her commitment to following her heart and advocating for what she believes is right for humanity shines through. Against all societal constraints, she redefines the roles traditionally assigned to women, emerging as an enthralling figure surrounded by distinguished contemporaries.

The book’s prose is eloquently smooth, with seamlessly woven dialogue that propels the story forward. This masterful storytelling makes Finding Margaret Fuller a captivating and enriching read, paying homage to a woman whose life and work left an indelible mark on history.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

This was an excellent book.

I wasn't sure what to expect going in to this book, as I wasn't familiar with Margaret Fuller. This book was a great introduction. Within the context of historical fiction, it was a great telling of a story. I appreciate the authors notes where she notes where pieces of the story deviate from what happened, but all in all, Pataki followed pretty closely the life of Margaret Fuller.

It is amazing to think of the many recognizable people she called friends throughout her life, and the many adventures and experiences she had along the way. She was an education, writer, thinker, reporter, and more. Considering the time in which she lived, this is quite an accomplishment. And Pataki does a wonderful job of capturing the story.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley and I'm very glad I read it.

unfortunately, I was not vibing with this one and I had to DNF. The plot seemed so promising but it fell short.
I just dont think this book was for me.

I will recommend this book to the right audience.

What an amazing life Ms. Fuller lived. This fictional account of her life’s work is magical in not only the beautiful prose and descriptions of Cambridge, New York, Boston and ultimately Italy in the mid-1800’s, but in how Pataki tells Fuller’s impact on women’s rights. Fuller had an incredible broad of talented thinkers and writers among her inner most circle and they were no doubt catalysts for each other’s developing brilliance. We learn how her friendships develop with Hawthorne, Emerson, Alcott, and Thoreau, but ultimately we see how she prepared the foundation for the suffrage movement.

Although this book starts a bit slow, I found the writing so beautiful it was impossible to put down. It picks up to a fast pace halfway through just like her growing courage to take bigger and bigger risks in those oppressive times.

Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group -Ballentine for this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #FindingMargaretFuller

Margaret Fuller was a woman ahead of her time being one of the founders of the woman’s movement. She was an important figure in our literary history of the 19th century but not well known to most. Working and associating with many of the greats such as Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathanial Hawthorne and others but never getting her equal compensation while publishing articles. The strides she made for women throughout her lifetime are detailed through her travels as she becomes a wife and mother while facing many hardships. I applaud all the research that the put into this novel. #FindingMargaretFuller #AllisonPataki #NetGalley

I received this as a digital ARC from NetGalley.

I am definitely the audience for any and all historical fiction written about Transcendentalists but eve still I really enjoyed this book. Margaret Fuller had a fascinating life and that doesn't even include all the 19th century greats that she interacted with!

Highly recommended for lovers of: 19th century writers, Transcendentalism, early feminism, and New England history.

Also as always loved that the author took every chance they had to trash Bronson Alcott.