Juliette Gordon Low - by Stacy A Cordery (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Experience the captivating journey of a trailblazing woman who defied conventions and created a lasting legacy.

Born at the start of the Civil War, Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low struggled to reconcile being a good Southern belle with being true to her adventurous spirit. Accidentally deafened, she married a dashing British patrician and moved to England, where she quickly became dissatisfied with the aimlessness of privileged life. Her search for greater purpose ended when she met Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, and was inspired to recreate his program for girls.

The Girl Scouts of the USA--which can now count more than fifty-nine million American girls and women among its past members--aims to instill useful skills and moral values in its young members, with an emphasis on fun. In this lively and accessible biography of its intrepid founder, Stacy A. Cordery paints a dynamic portrait of an intriguing woman and a true pioneer whose work touched the lives of millions of girls and women around the world.

Review Quotes

"A biography that fully captures its dynamic subject and her greatest accomplishment." -- Boston Globe

"Stacy Cordery's engaging portrait . . . paints a charming picture of Daisy as a warm-hearted force of nature." -- Chicago Tribune

"Cordery . . . has written a detailed and well-researched book. She shows Low to be a strong woman ahead of her time." -- The Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Of the three books pegged to the Girl Scouts' 100th, the most engaging by far is Stacy A. Cordery's Juliette Gordon Low. Ms. Cordery gives us the unexpurgated life--one that might make you want to shield the eyes of the nearest Brownie Scout but one that also lends depth and color to the American Girl Scouts founder's story. Ms. Cordery uses a wealth of historical detail to animate both an era and the author's flawed, sometimes exasperating but generally appealing subject. . . . The merit badge here goes to Stacy Cordery's biography." -- The Wall Street Journal

"Cordery's extensive biography fully explores the complex and intricate life of Low." -- Deseret News

"Delightful." -- BookPage

"This biography brings to life the woman whose efforts galvanized an entire nation of young women. 'Long Live Girl Scouts!' may be the cry on readers' lips after finishing this tribute to a spirited and inspirational American leader." -- Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Stacy A. Cordery is a professor of history at Monmouth College and the bibliographer of the National First Ladies' Library. She is the author of Alice, a biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth. She lives in Monmouth, Illinois.