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Why has one of America’s most remarkable pioneers been forgotten? Kate Danaher, author of the historical novel Unstoppable: The Victoria Woodhull Story, brings listeners into the fascinating world of Victoria Woodhull—the groundbreaking reformer, publisher, and suffrage advocate who, in 1872, became the first woman to run for President of the United States. On Election Day, while men of the nation voted, Woodhull was jailed for exposing sexual misconduct, hypocrisy, and corruption.

Danaher’s journey to write Unstoppable was shaped by historical inquiry and by the work of those who have helped uncover Woodhull’s story. She wrote the novel with the benefit of the extensive work of independent researcher and genealogist Mary L. Shearer, whose decades of study on Victoria Woodhull have illuminated the historical record. Danaher also drew heavily on the archival discoveries and resources developed by Woodhull Rising, dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Woodhull and her family.

In this conversation, Danaher discusses bringing history to life through fiction, the challenge of separating documented history from long-repeated myths, and why Victoria Woodhull’s extraordinary life deserves to be rediscovered. Listeners will discover the woman behind the headlines: a fearless advocate for equality who challenged the political and social boundaries of her time—and whose story remains remarkably relevant today.
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The book is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop.org.

Bio of presenter: Kate has a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Delaware and is a former professor of English at Rosemont College. She is an Irish storyteller, fiddler, and a founder and emeritus board member of the Irish Heritage Theater in Philadelphia. She also performed with and served on the board of the Delaware Shakespeare Festival.