Passionate Commitments

The Lives of Anna Rochester and Grace Hutchins

By Julia M. Allen | Publisher: State University of New York Press

About the book

Winner of the 2014 Judy Grahn Award for Lesbian Nonfiction presented by the Publishing Triangle

Developing their rhetorical skills in early-twentieth-century women's organizations, Anna Rochester and Grace Hutchins, life partners and heirs to significant wealth, aimed for revolution rather than reform. They lived frugally while devoting themselves to several organizations in succession, including the Episcopal Church and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, as they searched for a place where their efforts were welcomed and where they could address the root causes of social inequities. In 1927, they joined the Communist Party USA and helped to build the Labor Research Association. There they engaged in research and wrote books, pamphlets, and articles arguing for gender and racial equality, and economic justice.

Julia M. Allen's Passionate Commitments is a love story, but more than that, it is a story of two women whose love for each other sustained their political work. Allen examines the personal and public writings of Rochester and Hutchins to reveal underreported challenges to capitalism as well as little-known efforts to strengthen feminism during their time. Through an investigation of their lives and writings, this biography charts the underpinnings of American Cold War fears and the influence of sexology on political movements in mid-twentieth-century America.

Editions of Passionate Commitments

Hardcover
ISBN 9781438446875
Paperback
ISBN 9781438446882
PDF
ISBN 9781438446899

Read an Excerpt

Winner of the 2014 Judy Grahn Award for Lesbian Nonfiction presented by the Publishing Triangle

Developing their rhetorical skills in early-twentieth-century women's organizations, Anna Rochester and Grace Hutchins, life partners and heirs to significant wealth, aimed for revolution rather than reform. They lived frugally while devoting themselves to several organizations in succession, including the Episcopal Church and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, as they searched for a place where their efforts were welcomed and where they could address the root causes of social inequities. In 1927, they joined the Communist Party USA and helped to build the Labor Research Association. There they engaged in research and wrote books, pamphlets, and articles arguing for gender and racial equality, and economic justice.

Julia M. Allen's Passionate Commitments is a love story, but more than that, it is a story of two women whose love for each other sustained their political work. Allen examines the personal and public writings of Rochester and Hutchins to reveal underreported challenges to capitalism as well as little-known efforts to strengthen feminism during their time. Through an investigation of their lives and writings, this biography charts the underpinnings of American Cold War fears and the influence of sexology on political movements in mid-twentieth-century America.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Passionate Commitments about?

Winner of the 2014 Judy Grahn Award for Lesbian Nonfiction presented by the Publishing Triangle

Developing their rhetorical skills in early-twentieth-century women's organizations, Anna Rochester and Grace Hutchins, life partners and heirs to significant wealth, aimed for revolution rather than reform. They lived frugally while devoting themselves to several organizations in succession, including the Episcopal Church and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, as they searched for a place where their efforts were welcomed and where they could address the root causes of social inequities. In 1927, they joined the Communist Party USA and helped to build the Labor Research Association. There they engaged in research and wrote books, pamphlets, and articles arguing for gender and racial equality, and economic justice.

Julia M. Allen's Passionate Commitments is a love story, but more than that, it is a story of two women whose love for each other sustained their political work. Allen examines the personal and public writings of Rochester and Hutchins to reveal underreported challenges to capitalism as well as little-known efforts to strengthen feminism during their time. Through an investigation of their lives and writings, this biography charts the underpinnings of American Cold War fears and the influence of sexology on political movements in mid-twentieth-century America.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Passionate Commitments?

Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general > Biography: historical, political and military

Where can I read a sample of Passionate Commitments?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781438446875

How long is Passionate Commitments and how many pages does it have?

Passionate Commitments has 378 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Passionate Commitments?

Julia M. Allen

Who is the Publisher of the book Passionate Commitments?

State University of New York Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Passionate Commitments is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781438446875) and paperback(ISBN 9781438446882) and pdf(ISBN 9781438446899)

Where can I buy Passionate Commitments online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy Passionate Commitments?