Joseph P. Eckhardt

I have to admit that I have never heard of Wilna Hervey or Nan Mason before receiving this book, but I now wish I had met them.
Both women were full of life, love and adventure and lived their lives the way they wanted as a same sex couple before this was such an accepted thing.
Wilna was a silent movie star and both women were artists in later life. They became well known members of the early day Woodstock, NY community where they charmed everyone, gave fantastic parties, farmed , raised animals, and created their various forms of art.
The book is very well researched and full of pictures of the "large girls", their homes and art. I really enjoyed this book!… (more)

This book is a charming foray into the years that Wilna Hervey and Nan Mason spent together. It travels from Hollywood to the artist colony at Woodstock, NY to Carmel and on to Florida sharing tidbits of these two artistic and charming women. There is a wonderful assortment of their works pictured throughout and I can not think of a better way to dip your toe into the 50+ years that they shared their lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an enchanting and entertaining trip of these women's lives and the lives of those that they met along the way.… (more)

I received a copy of "Living Large" in exchange for an honest review.
I am happy to say that I loved this book. It's a carefully and lovingly researched biography of two women I had never heard of --Wilna Hervey and Nan Mason. As it turned out, their life story was fascinating.

Born in 1894, Wilna Hervey, a large child from birth, grew to be 6’4” and weigh 350 pounds; her size led to her being cast as ‘Powerful Katrinka’ in the Toonerville Trolley silent movies. Of the two women, she is the best known, mainly by fans of silent film.

Wilma had well-to-do loving parents, who educated her at home since she did not fit in at school with other girls. She was artistic from a young age, but shy. Drawing and painting were her main passions; however it was as Mighty Katrinka that she was best known, even though that was a short part of her long life. And it was through the Toonerville movies and her co-star Dan Mason, that she met the woman with whom she’d spend the rest of her life: Mason’s daughter, Nan.

Nan and Wilna had no intentions of being a couple at first; they both were involved with men- Nan had a fiance. But their lives fit together. Nan was nearly as tall as Wilna, and they shared an interest in art. They found that life in the Woodstock area, in an artist’s colony, suited them very well. And since Wilna was an heiress, they could afford to live as they pleased. The Big Girls as they were known lived together 59 years in harmony, with a large circle of friends and fellow artists.

I especially enjoyed the many vintage photographs and illustrations which the publisher, Woodstock Arts, included in this handsome edition. For me, this book is a keeper.… (more)