The theme through most of these biographies is that the woman had talent and used it. That meant going against the strong societal prejudices by men, as well as women, that women should marry and subject themselves to-i.e. 'obey'-their husbands, have and raise children and make sure the house was comfortable and dinner was on the table by the time the husband came home. The wife supposedly derived her happiness from the fact that she was doing all...