Lady Liberty: A Biography

Author: Doreen Rapport
Begun as Edouard De Laboulaye’s romantic vision to celebrate one hundred years of independence, designed and constructed by Auguste Bartholdi, given in friendship by the people of France, and erected as a result of countless small contributions of ordinary Americans, the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of hope and freedom to millions around the globe. Doreen Rapport and Matt Tavares have crafted a biography of this icon told through the visions of those who conceived of and created her, as well as the reflections of those for whom she represents the ideals of liberty and opportunity. In describing how the statue came to be, the book presents first person accounts by the various people involved, expressing their feelings, impressions, and commitment to the concept and creation of the Statue of Liberty. Readers will learn how De Laboulaye’s vision inspired Bartholdi’s design and in turn Gustave Eiffel’s amazing feat of engineering. They will come to understand the backbreaking labor of the construction workers as described by Charles P. Stone, their supervisor, as well as the role played by Joseph Pulitzer, an immigrant himself, who realized the power of the symbol and through his newspaper, campaigned for contributions to build the pedestal. Young readers may be inspired to take action after reading the section about Florence De Foreest, a young girl from Metuchen, New Jersey, who sent Pulitzer her two pet roosters to sell to help pay for the pedestal. Included also are sections about Emma Lazarus’ poem, written for an auction to help raise funds, and the reflections of Jose Marti, a journalist and Cuban immigrant, as he watched the celebrations when the statue was unveiled and dedicated. Lady Liberty – A Biography includes a list of statue dimensions and an historical time line and provides a unique perspective from which young readers can view this national symbol.

Year Released: 2008
Grades 3-6