American author, political activist, and lecturer, Helen Keller was the
first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Born in 1880
she fell ill at an early age with an illness, possibly scarlet fever or
meningitis, which did not last very long yet unfortunately left her both
deaf and blind. When Helen was six years old her mother, having been
inspired by an account in Charles Dickens's "American Notes" of the
successful education of another deaf and blind woman, sought the
assistance of the "Perkins Institute for the Blind" for help in getting
Helen to deal with her handicap and receive an education. The Institute
asked former student Anne Sullivan, herself visually impaired, to become
Keller's instructor. Dramatically depicted in numerous award-winning
productions of both screen and stage, "The Story of My Life" is Helen
Keller's autobiography, the tale of a young woman's struggle to deal
with and overcome a great physical handicap. This edition is printed on
premium acid-free paper and includes a selection of Helen's letters and
a supplementary account of her education, including passages from the
reports and letters of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, by John Albert Macy.