Cristina De Stefano is a journalist and writer. She lives and works
in Paris as a literary scout for many publishing houses around the
world. Her books Belinda e il mostro- Vita segreta di Cristina
Campo (2002) and Americane avventurose (2007) have been translated
into French, German, Spanish, and Polish. Her biography Oriana
Fallaci- The Journalist, the Agitator, the Legend was published by
Other Press in 2017.
Gregory Conti has translated numerous works of fiction, nonfiction,
and poetry from Italian including works by Emilio Lussu, Rosetta
Loy, Elisa Biagini, and Paolo Rumiz. He is a regular contributor to
the literary quarterly, Raritan.
“A powerfully gentle portrait of a willful and imperious child who
grows into a willful and imperious adult, one whose central and
profound contribution to society is the insight that teachers
should heed the willfulness of small children.” —Harper’s
"In short, vignette-style chapters De Stefano documents
Montessori’s unusual and groundbreaking career path…Montessori
never abandoned her faith in the idea that all children, rich and
poor, should be more valued, supported, and empowered. And whether
we embrace her educational methods or not, in that sense we should
all be more Montessorian.” —Washington Post
“This well-researched narrative bears witness to determination,
setbacks, sorrow, and overwhelming success…A nuanced portrait of an
educational pioneer.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Readers of feminist history will savor this evenhanded profile of
a groundbreaking educator and businesswoman.” —Publishers
Weekly
“A balanced, well-written, and clear-eyed portrait of a
complex, trailblazing woman.” —Library Journal
“An intimate, comprehensive biography…[an] absorbing narrative…that
rewards both intellect and emotion.” —Foreword Reviews (starred
review)
“[The Child Is the Teacher] goes beyond the typical accounts
written by disciples…It is remarkable how much of Montessori’s
radical critique still rings true today.” —Reason
“With extensive access to Montessori’s unpublished diaries and
letters, journalist Cristina De Stefano has written a compellingly
readable account of the personal life of the famous educator.” —Dr.
Mira Debs, author of Diverse Families, Desirable Schools: Public
Montessori in the Era of School Choice
“In over fifty years of reading and writing about Maria Montessori,
I have never found a book, except those written by Dr. Montessori
herself, that I could read from cover to cover. The Child Is the
Teacher is essential for anyone interested in education, in
Montessori schools for children, and in Montessori teacher training
for adults.” —Susan Mayclin Stephenson, author of The Joyful Child:
Montessori, Global Wisdom for Birth to Three
“De Stefano’s lively new biography of Montessori is a feast—a
sympathetic yet clear-eyed view of a complex, revolutionary genius
whose mission was to shed new light on children, revealing
conditions wherein they become the hope for all humanity. The book
is extensively researched and filled with novel insights and
information.” —Angeline S. Lillard, Professor of Psychology,
University of Virginia
“Cristina De Stefano brings Maria Montessori to life in her
important new biography, The Child Is the Teacher. With a fresh,
objective perspective as a thoughtful Italian journalist, she
gained access to many new original sources that offer a unique
window into the life and thoughts of one of the twentieth
century’s leading agents of social change and the founder of a
global movement to transform education that also led to
contemporary brain research. Montessori’s life is a
fascinating story in itself. This book will be a must-read
work.” —Tim Seldin, President of The Montessori Foundation and
Chair of The International Montessori Council
“Weaving history and narrative, Cristina De Stefano takes us on the
journey of feminist radical and progressive educator Maria
Montessori, from her early days in the anatomy room to the
hollowed-out buildings of San Lorenzo, where she envisioned a new
pedagogy that placed autonomy at the center of a child’s social and
intellectual development. A fascinating portrait of the
controversial woman behind ‘The Children’s School,’ The Child Is
the Teacher shows how the revolutionary idea about children’s
rights depended on a new, peaceful philosophy of humanity.”
—Jaipreet Virdi, author of Hearing Happiness: Deafness Cures in
History
Praise for Oriana Fallaci:
“Engrossing” —The New Yorker
“It’s the first authorized biography we have of Fallaci, with
access to new personal records, and welcome for that reason…it
gets her story onto the page and, thanks to its subject, is never
dull.” —New York Times
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