PositiveThe Washington PostAfter delving into the sisters’ letters and papers, the author ably illuminates the Blackwells’ struggles, the opposition they faced and the allies who helped make their success possible ... Nimura often sidesteps details of the Blackwells’ private lives and at times presents too much information, particularly about their clothing and residences. Despite the periodic narrative detours, the book moves at a lively pace ... In 1994, almost 150 years after Elizabeth began her studies, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the successor to Geneva Medical College, erected a statue of her. Despite decades of medical practice and institutional leadership, Emily has yet to receive that honor. Reading this smart double biography makes clear why that delay in the first instance, and omission in the second, is regrettable.
