Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy

Rating:
Summary: Enlightening!
Review: I entirely disagree with the reader below me. (Everyone owned slaves back then, except for, notably, Alexander Hamilton, who hated slavery, and yes, he wasn't the only one. But still, the focus of the book was Theodosia, not Aaron.)

I came across Theodosia while I was watching the PBS Home Video "The Duel" (which I recommend if you are interested in Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, the duel itself, or politics in that time period). I wanted to know more about her and purchased this book. I'm glad I did! This biography seems more like a novel because of the incredible, fast-paced journey it leads you on into the past. I especially liked the last few chapters, when the author explored Theodosia's possible fates and the "mystery of the Nag's Head portrait." This whole book never had a boring moment, so if you are interested in this great yet unknown woman or her infamous father, read this book ASAP!

Rating:
Summary: A mysterious woman with a powerful mind
Review: I really enjoyed Richard N. Côté's biography Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy. Through his use of her letters and other historical documents, Côté has forged a compelling story of Theodosia's life; one that both entertains and educates the reader. It pushes you to question the motives of Theodosia's father, Aaron Burr, who educated his daughter according to the principles of the radical English feminist, Mary Wollstonecraft. He keeps you turning the page for more as you follow Theodosia's intricate and amazing life. For me, who lives in South Carolina, where Theodosia struggled through the last twelve years of her life, it was especially interesting to read about the life of a female intellectual in a time period that was actively opposed to female education. Theodosia proves to be a role model for all women who are looking to succeed in education and knowledge and teaches us that anything is possible despite severe obstacles. Chapter 9, "The Voyage of the Patriot," was of particular interest to me, as it demonstrated what an extraordinary woman Theodosia was. Although frail from recurring health problems and disheartened by both the death of her only son and her father's four-year exile in Europe, Theodosia did not lose hope. She decided to transcend her serious health problems and chose to fulfill her role in life, uphold the values her father had worked so hard to instill in her, and continue on with strength and courage. This is truly a portrait of a noble woman who, despite the many trials she encountered through life, always managed to rise to the occasion.

Rating:
Summary: A Tapestry of Mystery and Intrigue
Review: Richard Côté does it again! "Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy," like Côté's "Mary's World: Love, War, and Family Ties in Nineteenth-Century Charleston," gives the reader an intimate look at the life of an early-American aristocrat. Both biographies are tales of strong women living in a man's world. Weaving a tapestry of mystery and intrigue, Richard Côté transports the reader to a bygone era in which love and betrayal are not always what they seem.

Do you think chaotic presidential elections are an aspect only of modern society? Think again. "Theodosia" reveals the bitter struggles -- both personal and political -- of Aaron Burr, Theodosia's father and the third vice president of the United States. After the legal and provoked duel in which Burr fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton, he was villainized, thereby bringing his daughter down into the quagmire with him.

Richard Côté has written the most comprehensive and unbiased biography about this mysterious lady. I found Theodosia to be a thoroughly good yarn that reads more like a contemporary novel than the historical biography that it is. For anyone with an interest in history, or anyone wanting a great read, I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Theodosia Burr Alston
Review: Well researched, well written, this book is a great read. Mr. Côté has given us the fascinating story of Aaron Burr's daughter. Multi-lingual, sophisticated and beautiful, Theodosia interacted with some of the greatest personalities of her time. The author refers to her as a prodigy, but she might well also be considered to be a true super woman, molded by an education based on the then-radical concepts of Mary Wollstonecraft. Her father conspired with a foreign power to carve her an empire out of Mexico and part of the young United States. Instead, his plans were crushed.

Even after her mysterious disappearance at sea, Theodosia's mystique lives on, as can be seen by anyone who as ever read a collection of Carolina ghost stories, or taken a tour in Georgetown or Charleston. She is surrounded by a mist of local legends. However, the author has given us a chance to see the real Theodosia, extracted from the nefarious shadow of her infamous father. He gives us, not a legend, nor a dry history, but a portrait of a real woman, with real emotions and concerns. Yet again, his approach is analytical, and where there are unanswered questions or conflicting data, he carefully examines the possible arguments to aid the reader in drawing his or her own conclusions.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes biographies of fascinating people, but also to reading groups (a discussion guide is available). It is also a book for anyone who loves art or a great mystery (The portrait that surfaced after her death is just one example). It is an engaging read that will leave you dreaming about what might have been, lost in admiration for its subject, and trying to unravel its mysteries long after you finish the last page.

Rating:
Summary: I Couldn't Put It Down
Review: What an in depth and at times riveting account of Theodosia, the beautiful and very gifted daughter of Vice President and scheming traitor, Aaron Burr. This is a story that has been told before but never brilliantly as in Mr. Cote's sweeping tale. The author brings to life the romantic and tragic heroine, Theodosia, so vividly that the reader truly feels her joys and pain. From her privileged upbringing by a father who was a brilliant but flawed man to her marriage into South Carolina's wealthiest family and eventually to her mysterious death at age 28, this is a story that carries us through the ballrooms and political intrigue of the 18th and early 19th Century. Theodosia, the most well educated woman of her time, was destined by her ambitious father to be empress of Mexico in a scheme both treasonous and ultimately ruinous. Theodosia vanished at sea in 1812 leaving behind a haunting portrait that washed up on a North Carolina beach and a story so intriguing that it lingers in the heart and mind long after the book is finished.