About this title: In this autobiography, initially published in 1903, Helen Keller recalls her remarkable life as a blind and deaf woman taught to communicate by Ann Sullivan. Here among other memories, Keller describes her epiphany at the water pump when she connected the physical world with its linguistic counterpart. Keller was eventually educated at Radcliffe ...
read more
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 04/2003
ISBN-13:9780679642879ISBN:0679642870
Description: Very good in very good dust jacket. Very Good, In very good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 400 p. Contains: Illustrations. read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Edition: The Restored Ed. /
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 2003-04-15
ISBN-13:9780679642879ISBN:0679642870
Description: Like New. May be shiny, in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, no damage to binding, may have a remainder mark. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 2004-03-09
ISBN-13:9780812968866ISBN:0812968867
Description: Good. You save because this is a former library softcover book with the usual markings. It shows signs of wear, but it is still very readable. A great value. read more
Edition: 100th Anniversary ed.
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780812968866ISBN:0812968867
Description: Fine. No dust jacket as issued. Clean and unmarked with light edgewear to covers. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 400 p. Audience: General/trade. Ships from US-NE. Support Independent Booksellers! Omahabooks offers same or next day shipping-satisfaction guaranteed. Priority, Expedited, APO, International may require additional postage-contact seller. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780812968866ISBN:0812968867
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 2004-03-01
ISBN-13:9780812968866ISBN:0812968867
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780812968866. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9780679642879ISBN:0679642870
Description: Fine in Fine jacket. Gift giving condition; 100th anniversary complete edition of Helen Keller's writings available As New Condition-Over 500, 000 Internet Orders Shipped. read more
Description: Fair. 0679642870 Books in acceptable condition may show signifigant wear and have lots of writing/underlining. Will be shipped promptly! read more
Description: Fair. 0679642870 Books in acceptable condition may show signifigant wear and have lots of writing/underlining. Will be shipped promptly! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 4/15/2003
ISBN-13:9780679642879ISBN:0679642870
Description: Good. 0679642870 HARDCOVER NO DUSTJACKET, GOOD CONDITION w/MODERATE COSMETIC EXTERIOR WEAR, PAGES GOOD-NO MARKS/UNDERLINING/HI-LIGHTING, NO MAJOR FLAWS-BINDING GOOD, PAGES CLEAN. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 2004-03-09
ISBN-13:9780812968866ISBN:0812968867
Description: Good. Paperback. General paperback wear, bends in spine, possible bends from reading on the cover, and may have a bookstore stamp inside cover. Quick response! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE INC
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780812968866ISBN:0812968867
Description: New. THE 100th YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION The Story of My Life, a remarkable account of overcoming the debilitating challenges of being both deaf and blind, has become an international classic, making Helen Keller one of the most well-known, inspirational f... read more
"This short autobiography of Helen Keller (written when she was only 22) was compelling and, at times, moving. The fact that her experiences are vastly different from those of my own colors her story telling and brings life to mundane details of life.
Some parts of the story did drag, such as when she was defending herself against charges of plagiarizing a story she wrote when she was twelve years old, or the endless list of friends (some of them quite famous) that she thanks at the end of the book.
Some of her ideals, also, come across as incongruous, she revels in the life of the idle rich describing in great detail summer homes, and sail boats, and the expansive libraries of her friends and family while condemning those who live in fine houses for the reality of the miserable poor. Also, the statement (referring to the bible) that "For my part, I wish, with Mr. Howells, that the literature of the past might be purged of all that is ugly and barbarous in it" struck me as particularly wrongheaded and narcissistic.
Despite that poor sophistry of the last few chapter I really enjoyed this book and the wide eyed wonder that it conveyed."
"I originally began reading this with my 10 year old daughter thinking it was an "easy reader" type autobiography. That is not the case at all and we quit reading it part way through b/c it was boring for her and too difficult for me to read aloud to her b/c I had to keep stopping to explain so much. However, I kept reading after we quit, and I liked it so much better when reading it on my own.
Helen has such a unique perspective on life, and her writing is so poetic and reflective. She says herself, and I believe you can tell, that she was well read, and many of her own thoughts are "borrowed" from her readings, but only in the sense that her thoughts on things sound just like they came out of poetry, or a very elegant book. Near the end of the story when she lists some of the many books she has read, I began to understand why she wrote the way she did, but I loved it. Helen was a remarkable woman and achieved a lot more than most do with a full compliment of senses. To hear her story from her perspective was very interesting.
That said, there were many parts that were boring to me and I found myself glossing over. There were whole chapters where she presented a story about something but went into such great detail about a person and her opinion of that person/situation, that it was too much. It was almost as if she took the opportunity when writing this book to clear the air on certain events, or to pay tribute to someone, and it gave the feel of an editorial or personal letter, more than a telling of her own life story. While I can partially understand this, and it did lend a degree of personality, it also became boring.
Overall though, I thought this was an interesting read and very fast (when you're not trying to read it to a 10 year old). I do recommend it, Helen Keller was a remarkable woman, and the mere fact that she even wrote an autobiography warrants due credit."
"Written when Helen Keller was 22, "The Story of My Life" is about her life as a child and young lady. She was not born blind and deaf, but as a toddler suffered an illness that almost killed her and robbed her of her sight and hearing. Helen was seemingly unteachable and growing wilder each day until Helen's parents hired Anne Sullivan who was to become her beloved "Teacher". Helen became a proficient student, learning not only to read and write and speak, but also learning several languages eventually graduating from Radcliffe College.
This is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary woman. The book is divided into two parts: Keller's autobiography and her letters. Her autobiography is written a bit flowery, but is interesting as she describes her early years and how she tried to communicate with people and her increasing frustration when they couldn't understand her. She writes about how Anne Sullivan finally got her to understand the word for "water" and how she quickly learned other words after that breakthrough. She tackles what was a very painful time in her young life when she was accused of plagiarizing a story when she was only 11 years old. She ends her autobiography by describing the things she loves in life: reading (books that she loves and her favorite authors), history, languages, the outdoors, sailing and visiting friends.
As interesting as Keller's autobiography is, her letters reveal even more about her life. Printed in chronological order, starting when Helen was just 7 years old, the letters show how quickly her grammar and writing skills developed. In the autobiographical section of the book, it is easy to forget that Keller was deaf and blind as she writes about talking to people and things that she's seen. Her letters explain better how people communicated with her and even the toll it took on Anne Sullivan, who had continuous problems with her eyes. Her letters explain how she wrote letters using a special board and a regular pencil and how she was able to read people's lips and feel things in a museum to get an appreciation of art. Very interesting reading.
My only complaint about this wonderful book is the editing. The book was first published in 1903 and has been in print ever since, but I wonder when it was last edited. There are notations that a footnote will follow but there is no footnote. There are mentions of people who were well known in Helen's time, but today's readers might not know how they were and footnotes should have been used to explain who they were, starting with Laura Bridgman who apparently was the inspiration for much of the education the young Helen got. Also, Helen raised money for the education of a blind and deaf boy, but there was no mention of what happened to him later in life.
Editing aside, this is a wonderful, inspirational book and I highly recommend it."
"This book is screaming empowerment. Helen Keller was able to accomplish more than almost all of us with her twice handicap. She was involved in the suffrage movement besides. Her accomplishments are phenomenal. She learned not only how to speak, but how to speak different languages. Her educational degrees are beyond impressive, especially since it was during a time when women weren't educated.
This book is written in the aura of a gifted writer. Her words are eloquent and her perspective is intelligence. Just the magic of how she weaves the language is a distraction as you read through it because you never leave the fact behind that she is both deaf and blind. In a way it is a distraction, but that is to its credit.
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
