Conclusions

Abstract

In conclusion, Rose Cleveland, the “passionate lover of her own country” and “a true friend of Italy,” was pined for by many, both in her adopted home in Bagni di Lucca, Italy, and in her native America. She had dedicated her life to improving the situation of women by creating new ideals in her literary works and offering her own independent and professional life as an example others could emulate. Through her writings she participated in controversies concerning opportunities for women’s educational, professional, and sexual self-realization and she offered new prospects for fulfilling careers and relationships. As a radiant example of American womanhood, Rose Elizabeth Cleveland helped shape and reinvent modern female identity.