Margaret Sanger: Her Life in Her Words

Sanger, the controversial fighter for legalized birth control and a key player in the development of Planned Parenthood, has been the subject of numerous biographies and, in 1938, penned an autobiography. Now actress Reed, who writes one-woman performances, has assembled a broad selection of Sanger's letters, articles and speeches to present a historical and personal look at the influential 20th century woman. Reed divides the book into three sections:""The Rebel,"" in which she introduces Sanger and presents information on early sex education and the first birth control clinic;""The Reformer,"" which includes Sanger's writings from the 1920s and '30s on birth control in China and Japan and her thoughts on meeting Gandhi in 1935; and""The Conservative Radical,"" a compact portion covering the advent of the birth control pill and Sanger's 1960 letter to the New York Times on overpopulation. The book deftly showcases Sanger's grit and determination and will be a welcome addition to feminist literature. Photos not seen by PW.