THE TOUCH OF MAGIC

by Lorena A. Hickok ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 16, 1961

The life of Annie Sullivan (""The Miracle Horker"" of William Gibson's play) was inextricably bound to Helen Keller's from her early twenties to her death. In an explicit account, Lorena Hickok who wrote The Story of Helen Keller (1958, J-182) considers with equal emphasis each event -- from Annie's grim childhood at Tewkesbury to her dramatic first communication with the untamed Helen through fifty years of abiding friendship. This is a double biography in many ways. Thus we can sympathize with the author's difficulty in accenting and shading particular events -- perhaps the major flaw of the book -- simply because each element of this astonishing relationship, each accomplishment whether it was Helen's graduation from Radcliffe, or their stint in vaudeville, each obstacle, whether Helen's debilitating struggle to clear herself of a plagiarism charge or Annie's struggle with impeding blindness- seems worthy of emphasis. The book in general deserves attention by many.

Pub Date: Oct. 16, 1961

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dodd, Mead

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1961

Categories: FICTION