A memoir of an extraordinary life—poet, international human rights activist, founding member of Amnesty International USA, journalist, hostess, famous beauty, foreign policy advisor; friend to politicians, movie stars, the legendary; discoverer of Philip Roth, longtime wife of Bill Styron and together, America's literary golden couple at home and abroad.
Many memorable anecdotes ... Her book is a riveting chronicle of a life lived to the full—a life made up of, and made rich by, family and friendship, traveling and writing, reporting and campaigning. By telling her own story, illustrating her achievements and showing that she was more than just a literary wife, Ms. Styron brings herself out of her husband’s shadow and into the light.
Styron’s memoir gets off to a terrific start ... The opening chapter in Chile is probably the most adventurous of the adventurous tales promised in her subtitle. The book also includes what turns out to be a characteristically incisive precis of the situation in Chile — she does the same, later in the book, with Yugoslavia and Cuba — as well as details of the horrors she turned up while there ... Later chapters...contain too many repetitive stories about her many friends and their pursuits. Still, Styron clearly took to heart the lessons of stewardship and community she absorbed from the Quakers, expressing them over decades of activism and friendship. She has lived a life in interesting times, among legendary characters, a life well worth telling — and reading about.
A signal gap in the memoir, created by Rose’s circumvention of various issues that she is either uncomfortable with or doesn’t wish to go into. One of them is her Jewish lineage, which she seldom alludes to ... A generous-hearted account of a life rich in affection and interest both toward those nearest to Rose and to strangers as well, all of whom reciprocated her feelings.
