O My America!

In O My America!, Sara Wheeler explores the journeys of six women who reinvented themselves in 19th-century America, reflecting on their courage and resilience.

In O My America!, Sara Wheeler embarks on a journey of rediscovery, revisiting the United States thirty-five years after her initial Greyhound adventure. This time, she traces the lives of six remarkable women who escaped the confines of nineteenth-century England to forge new identities across the Atlantic. Each woman's story is a testament to resilience and transformation, set against the backdrop of a nation still finding its footing.

Wheeler's companions include Fanny Trollope, whose sharp observations on American society were groundbreaking for her time, and Fanny Kemble, whose powerful stance against slavery challenged the status quo. Through the narratives of Harriet Martineau, Rebecca Burlend, Isabella Bird, and Catherine Hubback, the author highlights the courage these women displayed as they navigated a world filled with both promise and peril. Their journeys reflect a time when women were expected to conform, yet they chose to carve out their paths.

As Wheeler travels from the humid landscapes of Georgia to the majestic peaks of the Cascades, she not only uncovers the historical significance of these women's lives but also reflects on her own experiences and transformations. O My America! is more than a travelogue; it is an exploration of identity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of those who seek to redefine themselves in a new land.