Once you have started reading this book, I promise you won't be able to put it down. The life of Mary Meigs Atwater (1878 -1956) makes for fascinating reading, and whether you are a weaver or not, you will be caught up in her adventures. Yes, she was the "dean" of American handweaving and truly dedicated to the cause, but she was so much more: artist, world traveler, writer, publisher, chronicler of life in mining camps, wife, mother, occupational therapist, keen observer of people, places and to top it off, a beaver rancher! The first part of the book contains Mary's autobiography that she wrote when she was in her 70's. Her words literally sing, and her astute sense of humor shines. The remaining one-fourth of the book is a biography, and although Mary's journal and letters to family and friends are cited, I missed Mary's own voice. She was an absolutely incredible woman and this book also includes 16 pages of black & white photographs.

Very interesting book about one of the most influential handweavers in America. Having been an artist, a wife, a mother, an 'adventurer', and finally a weaver - Mary Atwater lived an extraordinary life.

The book chronicles her journey from a girl growing up in Iowa, through her journeys to Paris, and then her many trials and tribulations as a mining executive's wife. Mrs. Atwater didn't even start weaving until she was 40! But she spent many years using weaving to help with physical rehabilitation, starting after WWI, and continuing into the 1950's. She also started the handeaving revival in America, drafting patterns from extant examples, and providing information to countless weavers who had no other source for historical information.

The book combines aspects of autobiography, portions of letters and papers, and rememberances by her daughter and other associates.

It is a very easy read, and it brings to light the amazing changes that happened in America in the century after the Civil War.

My only regret is that it didn't go more into Mrs. Atwater's experiences in weaving - but she wrote many articles and books of her own on the subject, so this gives the information about the artist and author herself. ( )

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