Book Discussion: Dr. Sandra Bonura

Her book, "Light in the Queen?s Garden" is a historical account of a woman from the heartland of America who landed in the Kingdom of Hawai`i at the end of the 19th century. When young Ida Pope accepted a ?temporary? teaching job in a boarding school for Hawaiian girls, founded by American missionaries and led by Queen Lili?uokalani. Nor could she have envisioned she would become closely involved in the greatest political turmoil the Hawaiians had ever experienced. Newly discovered primary sources are used to flesh out and enliven the historical account of the 1893 Hawaiian Revolution that happened literally outside the school?s windows. As Hawai`i moved into the 20th century Ida tenaciously confronted the growing concentration of outside economic power and worked tirelessly to attain social reforms for Hawaiian women. But the male-dominated society and their Victorian views sought to thwart her efforts. Undaunted, Pope, the pragmatic activist, achieved on a small island what other extraordinary women like Jane Addams, Ida Tarbell and Lillian Wald did concurrently in her homeland. Unpublished diaries, letters, scrapbooks, oral history recording and rare photos discovered in an antique trunk donated to Scripps Institution of Oceanography, tell a story that has never been told before.

Admission/Cost: FREE

Location:
San Diego Central Public Library
330 Park Blvd
San Diego, CA 92101

Saturday, July 7 - 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

For more information, please call: (619) 236-5800 or visit: www.sandiego.librarymarket.com