Margaret Fuller (Marchesa Ossoli)

In Short

Julia Ward Howe’s biography traces the life of Margaret Fuller, an extraordinary nineteenth-century American writer, editor, and advocate for women's equality. The narrative follows her precocious intellectual development, her leading role in Boston's transcendentalist movements, her literary criticism for the New York Tribune, and her eventual journey to Europe. In Italy, she embraces the cause of republican revolution, manages military hospitals in Rome, marries, and becomes a mother. Howe examines her subject's complex character, brilliant mind, and tragic death at sea, offering a lasting study of a woman who defied contemporary gender constraints.

The Story

The biography opens with Margaret Fuller’s early youth, marked by intensive study and an exceptional precocity that sets her apart from her peers. Raised in Cambridge, she develops a sharp intellect alongside an outspokenness that occasionally causes friction in her school days. As she enters young adulthood, her brilliant conversational talents and formidable education earn her a prominent place among leading intellectuals, including Dr. Hedge, James Freeman Clarke, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Following the death of her father, Margaret makes a significant sacrifice: she gives up a long-cherished dream of traveling to Europe in order to remain with her mother and financially support the education of her younger siblings. She earns a living through severe labor, teaching in Providence and Boston. She becomes a central figure in transcendentalist circles, visiting Brook Farm, leading famous "Conversations" for women in Boston, and editing the influential journal the Dial. Her critical writings expand her reputation, culminating in her major work, Woman in the Nineteenth Century.

Seeking a wider sphere, Margaret moves to New York to write for Horace Greeley’s New York Tribune. Residing at the Greeley mansion, she immerses herself in the city's literary scene, visits female prisoners at Sing Sing, and writes sharp reviews of contemporary American and European literature. Her work reflects a belief that American culture must develop its own intellectual dignity rather than merely copying European models.

In 1846, Margaret finally embarks on her long-desired journey to Europe. She travels through England and Scotland, meeting prominent literary figures like Thomas Carlyle, before traveling to France and Italy. Arriving in Rome, she finds a city on the brink of political transformation under Pope Pius IX. Margaret becomes deeply involved in the struggle for Italian independence and republicanism. During this period, she secretly marries Giovanni Angelo Ossoli and gives birth to a son.

When the French besiege Rome in 1849, Margaret steps into a vital public role as the superintendent of the Fate Bene Fratelli military hospital, caring for wounded revolutionary soldiers night and day under harrowing conditions. Following the fall of the Roman Republic, Margaret, her husband, and their young child seek refuge in Florence. Facing financial hardship and political reaction across Europe, the family decides to return to the United States. In May 1850, they embark on the barque Elizabeth. The journey ends in catastrophe when the vessel is wrecked in a storm off the American coast, claiming the lives of Margaret, Ossoli, and their child.

How It Unfolds

An exacting education begins Margaret grows up in Cambridge under intense intellectual discipline, developing exceptional precocity and a formidable command of literature. Her early social interactions are marked by both brilliant conversation and occasional friction caused by her sharp sarcasm.

Duty triumphs over ambition Following her father's unexpected death, Margaret forfeits her dream of traveling to Europe. She chooses to stay home to maintain the family estate and work as a teacher to educate her younger brothers and sister.

Leading the intellectual vanguard Establishing herself in Boston and Concord, Margaret edits the Dial and organizes her famous "Conversations." She forms deep friendships with Ralph Waldo Emerson and other transcendentalists while publishing her landmark feminist text.

Broadening the critical sphere Moving to New York to join Horace Greeley's New York Tribune, Margaret reaches a vast readership. She writes incisive literary criticism and advocates for social reform, visiting institutions like Sing Sing prison.

Entering the European political storm Margaret travels across Europe, engaging with figures like Thomas Carlyle before settling in Rome. She witnesses the rise of the Italian national movement and aligns herself fully with the republican cause.

Ministering amid the siege of Rome During the 1849 bombardment of Rome, Margaret assumes charge of the Fate Bene Fratelli hospital. She works relentlessly day and night to comfort and treat wounded Italian patriots.

A tragic voyage home After the collapse of the Roman Republic, Margaret sails for America with her husband and young son. The journey terminates off the coast of New York, where the entire family perishes in a shipwreck.

The People

• Margaret Fuller: An ambitious writer and social critic who seeks full intellectual and spiritual development. She struggles against the restrictive expectations placed on women and the limits of her physical endurance, eventually finding her ultimate purpose in literary work and the Italian struggle for liberty.
• Ralph Waldo Emerson: A close friend, mentor, and intellectual ally who admires Margaret's brilliant gifts while offering candid critiques of her high self-esteem. He provides entry into New England's elite literary circles and remains a lifelong correspondent.
• Horace Greeley: The editor of the New York Tribune who offers Margaret a prominent platform for her criticism. He respects her abilities, provides her with a residence, and supports her work as a journalist.
• Thomas Carlyle: The famous Scottish essayist whom Margaret meets in London. Though she deeply respects his power to dismantle societal illusions, she views his lack of faith in constructive social progress with critical detachment.
• Giovanni Angelo Ossoli: An Italian nobleman and republican who becomes Margaret's husband. He shares her devotion to the cause of Italian freedom and supports her through the perils of the siege of Rome.
• Princess Christine Belgiojoso: A patriotic Milanese aristocrat who organizes medical care during the siege of Rome and appoints Margaret as superintendent of a key military hospital.

In Its Own Voice

"I advocated to-night the claims of intellect, because those present were rather disposed to postpone them."

Margaret reflects this uncompromising dedication to intellectual rigor during a philosophical discussion among her peers.

"Our hope lies in rousing in our own community a soul of goodness, a wise aspiration, that shall give us strength to assimilate this unwholesome food to better substance, or to cast off its contaminations."

Addressing the influx of European literature, Margaret argues that American culture must build internal moral strength rather than rely on external censorship.

"Since the 30th of April I go almost daily to the hospitals, and, though I have suffered, for I had no idea before how terrible gun-shot wounds and wound-fever are, yet I have taken great pleasure in being with the men."

Writing from besieged Rome, Margaret describes her arduous yet deeply rewarding service to wounded Italian revolutionary soldiers.

What It's Really About

Julia Ward Howe's biography is fundamentally about the struggle of an extraordinary woman to forge an independent path in a world unprepared for her intellect. It explores the tension between personal ambition and family duty, illustrating how moral sacrifices can expand rather than limit a person's character.

The book examines the evolution of American cultural identity, arguing that true national literature requires intellectual dignity and moral freedom rather than imitation of foreign models. Finally, it addresses the intersection of thought and action, showing how transcendentalist theory transformed into revolutionary commitment when Margaret confronted the political struggles of 19th-century Italy.

Why Read It Today

This biography appeals to readers interested in 19th-century intellectual history, early American feminism, and the lives of pioneering women writers. Julia Ward Howe writes with a clear, measured style that avoids sentimental excess while presenting a grounded, honest appraisal of her subject.

The narrative effectively balances Margaret Fuller's high-minded literary debates with the concrete realities of her life: her financial anxieties, her relentless workload, and the physical horrors of the war hospitals in Rome. Readers will find a compelling portrait of a woman who refused to accept the conventional boundaries of her era, captured by an author who understood the social dynamics of the period firsthand.

While the prose reflects the formal cadence of late 19th-century biographical writing and occasionally includes unparsed literary references, it moves forward with consistent momentum. The account of Margaret's transformation from a Boston intellectual into a active participant in the Italian revolution remains vivid and inspiring. What lingers is the memory of a courageous mind that sought knowledge, self-improvement, and social justice across every stage of her life.