Jill Norgren
Jill Norgren is a biographer, book reviewer, and longtime member (now emerita) of the political science faculty at the City University of New York. Most recently, she wrote Belva Lockwood: The Woman Who Would be President (New York University Press, 2007) about the first American woman to be admitted to the US Supreme Court bar as well as the first woman to run a full campaign for the presidency (1884).
In 2009 Norgren also published a biography of Lockwood intended for 9-12 year old readers (Belva Lockwood: Equal Rights Pioneer).
A commuting marriage between central Pennsylvania and New York City permits her to see two very different sides of the United States.
CultureWatch — The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy; The Mysteries and International Negotiating of Midsomer Murders and Kidnap and Ransom
David Nasaw does not ask his readers to like Joe Kennedy. He does not hold back on the damning stories of deceit and unbridled ambition. He does, however, appear utterly convinced that Kennedy doted on his children — beyond needing them to fulfill his ambitions, and that they returned his love. Joe Kennedy “had pledged to faithfully love and support [Rose] and the children they might have together …. What he did not intend to do was give up being a ‘ladies man’.” And he did not. more »
Isabel, Lolo and Elena's Lists: A selection of fiction and non-fiction books for children and young adult readers certain to make great holiday presents
Jill Norgren writes, This holiday season you may be thinking, iTUNES, or video games, or clothes. My grandgirls suggest that whatever your choices, let there be a book among them. I particularly appreciate that most of the titles they have suggested are available in inexpensive paper editions. And more than a few are books that I would enjoy stealing off with for an hour or two. more »
Culture and Political Watch, The Spirit of Compromise: Why Governing Demands It and Campaigning Undermines It
Jill Norgren writes: "The authors explain this failure of representatives to work together as fallout from the permanence of campaigning in modern American politics. Successful campaigning selects for men and women who present themselves as tenaciously principled agents. These candidates appeal to voters with take-no-prisoner policy positions (refined for local predilections)." more »
CultureWatch Books: Black Gotham and Gods Without Men, Judge John Deed DVD
Jill Norgren and Julia Sneden Reviews: If you respect well-researched history, and crave an account of the footwork, persistent digging, and serendipity required, Carla Peterson's Black Gotham should be one of the next books that you read. Trying to keep up with the characters and periods in Gods Without Men is more than a little daunting, but the pure quality of Kunzru’s writing is brilliant. Judge John Deed, another addictive BBC series continues on DVD. more »
