Free Spirits by Mary Hutchings Reed

What is Free Spirits about?

In 1865 in New York City, wives were the property of their husbands, prostitutes were rich, and famous men were often frauds. Escaping an abusive marriage in Illinois, Daniella Maysfield finds herself at the Mission for the Rescue of Fallen Women, where a savvy prostitute becomes her best friend. Inspired by real events — the speeches of Victoria Woodhull in her efforts to amend the Marriage Laws, the trial of spirit photographer William H. Mumler, and P. T. Barnum’s American Museum — Free Spirits is the story of a woman’s struggle for independence.

What inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired to write Free Spirits when I learned that Hilary Clinton was not the first woman to run for President.  Victoria Woodhull ran on the Equal Rights Party ticket in 1872 even though women could not vote at that time and it is unclear whether she garnered any votes.  Woodhull was a fascinating woman who lectured frequently against the constrictions of the Marriage Laws, which made women the chattel of their husbands. In the 1860s and 70s, the richest and most independent women in New York City were prostitutes, who exercised control over their own bodies.  Woodhull was also the first woman broker on Wall Street, a newspaper publisher, a spiritualist, and a sometime prostitute  Not surprisingly, Woodhull has been the subject of biographies and historical tracts, and when, after drafting eight literary novels I decided to try my hand at an historical novel, Woodhull and her followers were the perfect models for strong, independent, and spiritual characters doing the best they could under difficult circumstances.  (Courting Kathleen Hannigan, Warming Up, Up, Saluting  the Sun, One for the Ark and a short story collection, Kind Eyes, are available on Amazon.com in print and on Kindle.)

What do you want readers to learn about the women of this period?

I think it is important for women to understand the history of women’s rights and the potential, even today, for escaping stereotypes and other obstacles to equality.

Why did you include spirits in your book?

Because Woodhull was a spiritualist, in studying the period I learned how prominent spiritualism was and how comforting to those who list loved ones during the Civil War.  Although many attempted to prove or disprove the existence of spirits, it was evident that belief was a matter of faith and that sometimes that faith could be exploited through deceptive practices, so that spirit photographers and promoters like P.T. Barnum could capitalize on both faith and the desire for faith. All of these seemed relevant to our current culture.