The Story of Rose O'Neill: An Autobiography

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating revelation of a sadly neglected genius.
Review: Rose O'Neill was a household name in her long lasting hey-day, yet somehow managed to die in an obscure part of the Ozarks,alone and forgotten. A brilliant draughtsman,portraitist and humorist ,it was O'Neill's sad paradoxical fate to be known for her Kewpie creations as well as condemned to try and repeat their success over and over. Dr.Brunell's sensitive presentation of O'Neill's own words beautifully reveal the vibrant personality who enchanted the world with her unique personality as well as her artistic gifts.

Rating:
Summary: A cultural treasure!
Review: Rose O'Neill writes with the flourish and flurry of a legion of Kewpies in full cute mode, but there is charm and a wealth of information to be found in this delightful little book that opens a window onto the world of one of America's most underated artists, creator of a cultural icon, and an icon herself, the fabled Rose of Washington Square! While men still grumble that "Women can't draw comics", Rose O'Neill was beating the boys at their own game with her unique mixture of beauty, grace, wit, unbelievable raw talent and an abundance of charm matched only by her personal generosity. I came away from this book with the feeling that I had met someone I genuinely liked, aware of her own beauty (but not even remotely vain because there doesn't appear to have been an overassesment of her looks. She was a stunner.) Her tales of life in the Ozarks are particularly interesting and the only thing regrettable about this book is that it was too short. I would have relished more details about her marriage to pioneer filmaker Gray Latham and it could have used an afterword that gave more detail about the end of her life. Highly recommended for those seeking a glimpse into the rarely seen life of women cartoonists, artists, and the Belle Epoque.

Rating:
Summary: The Story of Rose O'Neill, An Autobiography
Review: While this book is not a great literary work, it is a wonderful resource for the Rose O'Neill enthusiast. I found it to be the most comprehensive record of Rose O'Neill's life I have read to date. In her own words, Rose describes her upbringing in an extremely unconventional household by a mother and father, both well-read and educated, with a mutual interest in the arts. Her father wanted to make an "experiment" of her regarding her education and along with reading classic literature, listening to Irish stories of fairies and little people, he always provided her with sharp pencils and plenty of paper on which to draw.

Extensive information is provided on Rose's life including her first trip from New York to the family's new home at Bonniebrook, in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, her marriages and her struggles to make the first Kewpie dolls.

After reading this book it is easy to understand why Rose became the woman and artist that she was. It covers her formative years, beginning her career as an illustrator at a very early age, to her novels, poetry, sculpture, and serious art.