More Than A Memoir: Samuel Freedman’s Search for Who His Mother Was
photograph courtesy of Sara Barrett
In June 2001, journalist and Columbia professor Samuel Freedman began what would end up being an approximately three-year long journey to discover his mother’s, Eleanor Freedman’s, life before he was born. For years he had rejected her while she was alive, and disregarded her after her death at age 50. Mr. Freedman’s question at the beginning of his quest was, “What made her feel so unfulfilled?” The result of Mr. Freedman’s journey is the book “Who She Was.” In writing “Who She Was,” Mr. Freedman defied the notion that emotion contradicts craft and he redefined the genre of memoir.
Many believe that when working on a memoir or biography about someone, the author should be devoid of emotion in order to accentuate his or her craft and guard against bias. To many, craft and emotion cannot work hand in hand. According to Mr. Freedman, “What the head finds out, is what, in my experience, stimulates the heart.” Mr. Freedman spoke of the research process stimulating the emotional process. Though he researched the book objectively, Mr. Freedman did not quash his emotions. Rather, he acknowledged the fact that it is inevitable for one to feel emotional when dealing with such an intimate subject. Through his extensive research, including searching for Social Security and academic records, reading old newspapers, and interviewing his relatives and his mother’s friends, Mr. Freedman saw a side of his mother that he never knew. He began to understand the reasons she felt unfulfilled. Eleanor’s struggles to support her parents and siblings, her conflicting relationship with her own mother, and the limits of society on women, all contributed to her feelings of discontent. In “Who She Was,” Mr. Freedman truly brings his mother to life in a way that allows the reader to feel the emotions in her life, whether they come from her happiest moments or her most difficult, trying moments.
As more and more memoirs are getting published, the genre of memoir has become associated with sensationalism and bland storytelling. Many memoirs are autobiographies or biographies of celebrities that end up piquing the interest of the public through “new, juicy revelations” and controversial “confessions.” Mr. Freedman chose to focus not on someone who has been the subject of hundreds of books, but on his own mother. Researching a non-famous person is more difficult than finding information on a celebrity and Freedman’s mission brought him to Uruguay and also saw him sending 1000 letters to alumni of City College’s downtown campus, his mother’s alma mater. As part of his research, Mr. Freedman referred to photographs from the 1930s to the 1950s. He also gathered as much information as possible through interviews. According to Mr. Freedman, “The interview process is never done.” In interviews, the smallest bit of information can show itself at anytime and end up adding to his mother’s story. Through thorough research and brilliant writing, Mr. Freedman crafted a captivating book that tells the story of one person and in doing so recreates distinct moments in time. Mr. Freedman vividly describes New York City during the eras of the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II. “Who She Was” never digresses into unnecessary details that do not help define who Eleanor Freedman was. “Who She Was” is a sharp contrast to the many conventional memoirs and biographies available. Mr. Freedman’s book is much more than a memoir. It is a piece of personal history and the tangible result of its author’s quest to unravel the mystery of his mother.
In writing “Who She Was,” Samuel Freedman accomplished the difficult task of unearthing the past with all its joys and pains. In doing so, Mr. Freedman created a unique look at family and the importance of understanding. By writing “Who She Was,” Mr. Freedman embarked on an odyssey of discovery and reconciliation. By reading “Who She Was,” the reader gains a deeper understanding of one life’s significance and meaning.