Whatdoesagreatartistwhoisalsoamotherlooklike?Whatdoesitmeantocreate,notin“aroomofone’sown,“butinadomesticspace?InTheBabyontheFireEscape,award-winningbiographerJuliePhillipstraversestheshiftingterrainwheremotherhoodandcreativityconverge.Withfierceempathy,Phillipsevokestheintimateandvariedstrugglesofbrilliantartistsandwritersofthetwentiethcentury.UrsulaK.LeGuinfoundproductivestabilityinfamilylife,andAudreLorde’squeer,polyamorousunionallowedhertoraisechildrenonherownterms.SusanSontagbecameamotheratnineteen,AngelaCarteratforty-three.Thesemothershadonechild,orfive,orseven.Theyworkedinastudio,inthekitchen,inthecar,onthebed,atadesk,withababycarrierbesidethem.Theyfacedjudgementforpursuingtheircreativework--DorisLessingwassaidtohaveabandonedherchildren,andAliceNeel’sin-lawsfalselyclaimedthatsheonce,tofinishapainting,leftherbabyonthefireescapeofherNewYorkapartment.Asshethreadstogethervividportraitsofthesepathbreakingwomen,Phillipsarguesthatcreativemotherhoodisaquestionofkeepingthebabyonthatapocryphalfireescape:workandcareheldinaconstantlyrenegotiated,provisional,productivetension.Ameditationonmaternalidentityandartisticgreatness,TheBabyontheFireEscapeilluminatessomeofthemostpressingconflictsincontemporarylife.
