Rosemary Mahoney Knihy

Rosemary Mahoney was determined to take a solo trip down the Egyptian Nile in a small boat, even though civil unrest and vexing local traditions conspired to create obstacles every step of the way. Starting off in the south, she gained the unlikely sympathy and respect of a Muslim sailor, who provided her with both a seven-foot skiff and a window into the culturally and materially impoverished lives of rural Egyptians. Egyptian women don't row on the Nile, and tourists aren't allowed to for safety's sake. Mahoney endures extreme heat during the day, and a terror of crocodiles while alone in her boat at night. Whether she's confronting deeply held beliefs about non-Muslim women, finding connections to past chroniclers of the Nile, or coming to the dramaticm realization that fear can engender unwarranted violence, Rosemary Mahoney's informed curiosity about the world, her glorious prose, and her wit never fail to captivate.

A Doula is a pregnancy caregiver, who offers non-medical support before, during and after a pregnancy, no matter the outcome; whether it results in birth, abortion, miscarriage or foetal anomaly. Despite the growing awareness of doulas, no book yet exists that explores the history, philosophy, and practice of these caregivers for the general public. The Doulas is the first book to discuss this topic in an accessible non-fiction book, integrating anecdotes and memoir, as well as contextualising the movement within the larger scope of pregnancy care and reproductive rights.

"In this intelligent and humane book, Rosemary Mahoney writes of people who are blind....She reports on their courage and gives voice, time and again, to their miraculous dignity."--Andrew Solomon, author of Far From the Tree In the tradition of Oliver Sacks's The Island of the Colorblind, Rosemary Mahoney tells the story of Braille Without Borders, the first school for the blind in Tibet, and of Sabriye Tenberken, the remarkable blind woman who founded the school. Fascinated and impressed by what she learned from the blind children of Tibet, Mahoney was moved to investigate further the cultural history of blindness. As part of her research, she spent three months teaching at Tenberken's international training center for blind adults in Kerala, India, an experience that reveals both the shocking oppression endured by the world's blind, as well as their great resilience, integrity, ingenuity, and strength. By living among the blind, Rosemary Mahoney enables us to see them in fascinating close up, revealing their particular "quality of ease that seems to broadcast a fundamental connection to the world." Having read FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO SEE, you will never see the world in quite the same way again.

Embarking on six transformative journeys, Rosemary Mahoney explores the essence of belief through the lens of modern religious pilgrimage. Her travels take her from the Anglican shrine in Walsingham to the historic Camino de Santiago, and from the icy waters of Lourdes to a solitary night on the Sea of Galilee. She also navigates the spiritual depths of Varanasi and endures a barefoot pilgrimage on Ireland's Station Island. With keen observations and a sharp wit, Mahoney crafts a compelling narrative that delves into the complexities of faith and spirituality.

Set against the backdrop of impending political upheaval, the memoir offers a unique perspective on the lives of Chinese students at Hangzhou University through the eyes of an American teacher. Rosemary Mahoney navigates cultural barriers to foster genuine connections, revealing both the aspirations and harsh realities experienced by her students under an oppressive regime. Her reflections provide insight into the personal struggles and resilience of individuals during a time of significant societal tension.

In 1978, Rosemary Mahoney, an aspiring young writer of 17, wrote a letter to one of her personal idols, inquiring whether this great lady of American letters might need some domestic help during the summer. When Lillian Hellman responded affirmatively, Mahoney was ecstatic and wasted no time imagining that the summer in Hellman's employ might cement a friendship with the iconic writer, or that the proximity to greatness might spur her own fledgling literary efforts. In reality, Mahoney was lonesome and anxious, hiding behind a facade of self-confidence at a private New England boarding school, harboring the secrets of her complex Irish family. Mahoney saw in Hellman an escape and a salvation from the rigors of growing up. But once she secured the job, her hopes were swiftly shattered as the summer unfolded into an exquisite and grueling exercise in humiliation at the hands of the famously acerbic Hellman and her retinue of celebrated friends. Contrasting the vanity of a 17-year-old with that of a 73-year-old, this book is ultimately about the limitations of age, the complexities of literary ambition, and our need for heroes.