The eleventh hour in the life of Julia Ward Howe

In this intimate memoir, a daughter recounts the final decade of a remarkable woman's life, using her mother's own diary entries from 1906 onward. The pages open with a vivid autumn scene at Oak Glen, where the rhythm of harvest and the chatter of children frame a prayer for health, work, and a just world. As the years unfold, the reader watches a nonstop dedication to poetry, public speaking, and civic causes, all pursued with the same vigor that once launched a famous hymn.

The narrative highlights moments like the 1909 commission to write a celebratory poem for the Fulton‑Hudson event, culminating in a poised reading before a packed Metropolitan Opera House. Through anecdotes and gentle humor, the memoir reveals a philosophy that values the “eleventh hour”—the final push of creativity before any ending. Listeners will find an uplifting portrait of a woman who chose to keep working, learning, and inspiring until her last breath.