Chapters 1-4 Summary and Analysis

"Edie: An American Biography" by Jean Stein starts out with a detailed history of the illustrious Sedgwick family. Although a long description of the Sedgwick ancestry may seem superfluous, Stein shows that it is important to understand the mentality and social standing of the Sedgwick family of which Edie Sedgwick was a member. As it is throughout the entire book, the story of the Sedgwick family is told by various family members in a conversational manner. The first Sedgwick on record is Robert Sedgwick, who served as the first Major General of the Massachusetts Bay colony. The ancestor most referred to, however, is Judge Theodore Sedgwick, a man who was intimately involved in the American Revolution. Judge Sedgwick was also the first man to battle in court for a black woman's freedom. Eventually, Judge Sedgwick became Chief Justice of...