The Equivalents

By Maggie Doherty,

Book cover of The Equivalents: A Story of Art, Female Friendship, and Liberation in the 1960s

Book description

FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD

In 1960, Harvard’s sister college, Radcliffe, announced the founding of an Institute for Independent Study, a “messy experiment” in women’s education that offered paid fellowships to those with a PhD or “the equivalent” in artistic achievement. Five of the women who received…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Equivalents as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Maggie Doherty tells the story of five women artists—Anne Sexton, Maxine Kumin, Barbara Swan, Tillie Olsen, and Marianna Pineda—who were among the first fellows at Radcliffe’s new Institute for Independent Study. The fellowship was originally designed for women who needed a room (and a paycheck) of their own to resume work interrupted by marriage and motherhood. Doherty weaves a history of Radcliffe’s pioneering venture with moving stories of the first fellows, whose friendships strengthened their resolve to pursue art in the face of male skepticism.

From Heather's list on group biographies of women.

Want books like The Equivalents?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Equivalents.

Browse books like The Equivalents

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in self-actualization, female friendship, and intellectual?

Self-Actualization 215 books
Female Friendship 125 books
Intellectual 27 books