The voice of Harriet Taylor Mill /

In the first third of this book, Jacobs (Millikin Univ.) presents a biography of Harriet Taylor Mill in the form of a journal. Although the exact words are not Harriet's, Jacobs provides copious footnotes to ground the entries. Next, Jacobs discusses Harriet's relationship with John Stuart Mill. Using as a springboard the concept of a "collaborative self," she shows how several of their concerns and positions on various issues arise from the conditions of their shared life. Jacobs then considers the different aspects of Harriet's self, e.g., as daughter, sister, friend, wife, and mother. In the final chapter, Jacobs examines Harriet's work with John, arguing for the presence of her input, particularly in Principles of Political Economy and On Liberty. Jacobs's claim that Harriet and John collaborated on much work that bears his name alone may be controversial, but even more contentious is her claim that Harriet suffered from syphilis, having been infected by her first husband, John Taylor. Jacobs's case supporting this provocative claim is strong. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. General readers, undergraduates, and graduate students. May also interest some researchers/faculty. P. R. Sailors Southwest Missouri State University