Latta, Sara. I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. Biography. Zest, 10/2022. 208pp. PLB $39.99 978-1-7284-1391-4, PB $16.99. 140 978-1-7284-1392-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 8-12.
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was an outspoken free thinker and 19th century celebrity who demanded respect and power during her own lifetime and paved the way for future generations. One of the first women from the United States to receive a medical degree, she was the only one to practice as a surgeon during the Civil War and serve as a spy. She is still the only woman to have received the Medal of Honor. A founding member of the women’s rights movement, she was ostracized by that group for her practice of wearing pants. In this comprehensive biography, Latta lays out in detail the myriad groundbreaking events of a uniquely determined individual and social reformer who every day acted in accordance with her principles, regardless of the personal consequences. This long overdue biography feels particularly timely given the current interest in gender expansiveness and in uncovering historic figures who lived outside conventional norms. That said, the level of detail and very small print mean many readers may be inclined to skim for the highlights of Dr. Walker’s life. Period photographs and illustrations and sidebars provide context and add interest. An index, extensive source notes, and a selected biography make this well suited to research. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy, Retired