Elisabeth Bumiller
Author of May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons: A Journey Among the Women of India
About the Author
Works by Elisabeth Bumiller
May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons: A Journey Among the Women of India (1990) 334 copies, 4 reviews
The Secrets of Mariko: A Year in the Life of a Japanese Woman and Her Family (1995) 160 copies, 3 reviews
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Bumiller, Elisabeth
- Birthdate
- 1956-05-15
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Northwestern University
Columbia University School of Journalism
Walnut Hills High School - Occupations
- journalist
author - Organizations
- The New York Times
- Awards and honors
- Hoover Institution Media Fellow (2006)
- Relationships
- Weisman, Steven (husband)
- Short biography
- Elisabeth Bumiller was born in Denmark to a Danish mother and American father, and moved to the USA at age three. She grew up in Cincinnati, and graduated from Northwestern University and Columbia University's School of Journalism. She became a reporter for the Washington Post in 1979, working in Washington, New Delhi, Tokyo, and New York, before joining The New York Times, where she has been City Editor and White House correspondent. In 1983, she married Steven R. Weisman, a fellow journalist with whom she has two children. She has written several nonfiction books on the lives of women since 1996.
- Nationality
- USA (born to American father)
- Birthplace
- Denmark
- Places of residence
- Aalborg, Denmark
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Chicago, Illinois, USA
New York, New York, USA
Washington, D.C., USA
New Dehli, India (show all 7)
Tokyo, Japan - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
Every star was aligned to make this book unpublishable. Burmiller, a privileged wealthy US journalist with - at best - hazy romantic notions of India followed her husband out to his new job there. She admits that although she had done charitable work and written about the poor (once...) she hadn't ever done any deep thinking about poverty or its causes. Her journalism to that point had been more of the 'social column' type, reporting on the off-duty activities of the most powerful people in show more the world in the most powerful Capital in the world - Washington DC. She had never experienced either poverty or gender discrimination in her own life, having grown up in a generation, a place, and a social millieu where the battle of 60's and 70's feminism had been already won. After her arrival in New Delhi she devoted herself to reporting on the arts and culture of the elite of Indian society. She was aware of the press of humanity, of poverty, the injustice and chaos, and the overwhelming prejudice against women in Indian society, but was - as she says - hesitant to write about it all because she was 'intimidated' by the subject.
But then, after two years in India she plunges in. It was perhaps the most courageous and surprising thing she had ever done, and there's something about her uncertainty and humility that works magic with this book. It will always be an outsider's 'looking in' story of India and Indian women, but rather than taking the path of the expert commentator, or the ironic observer, Bumiller slogs her way towards the heart of the stories of the dozens of women in this book, never quite reaching an absolute truth, but being absolutely truthful about her limitations in discerning, and reporting on what those truths are. And for someone who had previously been 'charitable' she faced again and again the terrible realization that she was powerless to do almost anything at all to change the circumstances of the women who were so discriminated against and who lived lives in numbingly cruel and harsh conditions. Except that she could write, and she has written their story - and her own - powerfully, sympathetically, intelligently and with a remarkable and engaging humility.
Very highly recommended, as a feminist text, as a story of India, and most of all for any student of journalism. show less
But then, after two years in India she plunges in. It was perhaps the most courageous and surprising thing she had ever done, and there's something about her uncertainty and humility that works magic with this book. It will always be an outsider's 'looking in' story of India and Indian women, but rather than taking the path of the expert commentator, or the ironic observer, Bumiller slogs her way towards the heart of the stories of the dozens of women in this book, never quite reaching an absolute truth, but being absolutely truthful about her limitations in discerning, and reporting on what those truths are. And for someone who had previously been 'charitable' she faced again and again the terrible realization that she was powerless to do almost anything at all to change the circumstances of the women who were so discriminated against and who lived lives in numbingly cruel and harsh conditions. Except that she could write, and she has written their story - and her own - powerfully, sympathetically, intelligently and with a remarkable and engaging humility.
Very highly recommended, as a feminist text, as a story of India, and most of all for any student of journalism. show less
I enjoyed this book. A year in the life of a Japanese woman. The author does explore tangents to give us more background. This really helps to explain some of Mariko's story. The main focus seems to be on marriage. Other topics are covered, but it all keeps coming back to the relationship between husband and wife. Very different from America. Interesting how stereotypes viewed from a little different angle bring a new understanding. I found it very interesting. There is a good bibliography.
even though it covers well worn topics like arranged marriages, dowries, bride burnings, female infanticide, still a fascinating look from a western woman's perspective in India. not a light or easy read, but well worth it
One of the best non-fiction works I've read. Tells the true story of an ordinary Japanese housewife very poignantly and uses it to shed light on Japanese society without too many generalizations. I recommend it highly.
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Statistics
- Works
- 4
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 564
- Popularity
- #44,321
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 7
- ISBNs
- 14
- Languages
- 1