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March is Women's History Month, and if you're like me you'll be thrilled with how women's history has exploded as a subject over the past few years.
I'm not even that old, I was born in 1985! But I remember how much history at school was focused on men and their achievements. The change has been very welcome, for me at least.
But if you're looking for a new history read then the increase in books can feel like a bit of a minefield. Who exactly is this woman, and what did she do? What about books about groups of women? Where do I start, and are any of these books really any good?
Since I've read so many of them (and since most are still sitting on my groaning bookshelves) I thought I'd pick 30 books that I enjoyed. Consider this your starting point for finding out more about women, or one particular woman, who lived in the past.
Obviously I'm not suggesting you read all 30 this month! But hopefully it can act as a signpost and make you more aware of what's out there. I've split them up into individual women (so more like biographies), groups of women (gives you a broader view of a bigger group), and then at the end a few diaries (mostly from the Second World War) that can give you an insight into women's thoughts, feelings and lived experiences during wartime.
Just one note of caution though. These are all books I own and have read, and as a result they are very white, western European and royal-focused. The history of women of colour and non-royal women (especially works in English) is an area that needs more development. There are some exceptions in my list below, but I hope that in the future I'll be able to do a new list with a broader range of women.
Enjoy!
Individual women
Njinga of Angola - This book looks at Queen Njinga of Angola, a queen in southwest Africa who ruled an area that can now be found in present-day Angola. A new Netflix docu-drama, African Queens: Njinga, also looks at her life and reign.
Agrippina - Focused on the mother of the Roman emperor Nero, Agrippina discusses the life of a woman born into the deadly privilege of the Imperial family. I laughed out loud at this book several times and found it really hard to put down!
Eleanor of Castile - As the Queen of England as the first wife of King Edward I, Eleanor of Castile is remembered for the Eleanor Crosses that were built after her death. This biography examines her life and impact and questions the enduring image of her as a benevolent figure.
Spy Princess - Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan was an agent of Special Operations Executive in the Second World War. This excellent book looks at her childhood in France, the impact of her father's early death on the family, and how she faced capture, torture and death after becoming a radio operator in occupied Paris.
Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan - A Mughal Empress as one of the wives of Jahangir, Nur Jahan carved herself a unique and powerful rule in her husband's court. I know very little about the history of the Indian kingdoms, and found this book to be another one that I found incredibly hard to put down.
The Mystery of Princess Louise: Queen Victoria's Rebellious Daughter - Princess Louise was the fourth daughter (and sixth out of nine children) of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She was also a talented artist in her own right, and courted controversy with her relationships with several men including sculptor Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm. If you're fascinated by royal scandals, this is the book for you.
Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and His Scandalous Duchess - Katherine Swynford became a "notorious whore" after her affair with John of Gaunt, third son of King Edward III of England, became public knowledge. But in the long term not only did she and John marry after the death of his second wife, but it was through them that King Henry VII claimed the English throne.
Christina Queen of Sweden - Only surviving child of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, Christina became Queen Regnant of Sweden at just 7 years old. Ultimately she abdicated her throne and fled to Europe causing scandal by dressing in male clothing. She eventually converted to Catholicism and settled in Italy. This biography charts her life, her reign, and her travels after she stepped back from the throne.
The Forbidden Wife - If you want a book in which names beginning with "Aug" feature prominently then this is for you! Lady Augusta Murray was a relatively impoverished noblewoman who married Prince Augustus, son of King George III of Great Britain. But the marriage was declared invalid, and this book looks at Lady Augusta's lifelong battle to have her children recognised by the royal family.
Catherine de Medici - One of the most famous Queens of France, Catherine de Medici acted as regent for several of her sons as each one died heirless, leaving a younger brother to the throne. Along with her early life and marriage, this book discusses prominent parts of her reign such as the St Bartholomew Day Massacre, and accusations that she was a poisoner.
Isabella of Castile - The mother of Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, Isabella of Castile managed to claim the Castilian throne, unite the kingdom with neighbouring Aragon, and begin to develop a unified Spain as we know it today. Was she a good woman? Not necessarily, but she was a very powerful one.
Two or more women
Daughters of Chivalry - Another one I couldn't put down! Daughters of Chivalry is about the surviving daughters of King Edward I of England and his wife Eleanor of Castile. Their relationships with each other and their parents, and the progress of their lives, is delved into in great detail and it's really well written.
The Five: The Untold Lives of The Women Killed by Jack The Ripper - Hallie Rubenhold did an amazing job uncovering more about the victims of Jack the Ripper. The Five covers the lives of these women, and contextualises their lives and deaths within the Victorian attitudes of the time.
Heroines of the Medieval World - If you want a good introduction to a lot of women in the medieval world then give this book a try. Split into themed chapters, you get a big view of a lot of royal and noble women in medieval western Europe.
When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt - For those more interested in ancient history or Egyptology. This book, published to great acclaim a few years ago, describes the lives and reigns of six women who ruled as Queen in ancient Egypt, including Hatshepsut.
Sister Queens: Katherine of Aragon and Juana Queen of Castile - English Queen Katherine of Aragon was the youngest of five surviving children, with three older sisters. This book charts the paths of Katherine and her sister Juana, their highs and lows, and how their relationship was changed by distance and the fortunes of time.
Jambusters - Taking a break from royal history, Jambusters is all about the roles that Women's Institute members played during the Second World War. From taking in evacuees, to knitting for the troops and the infamous jam making, the WI had fingers in a multitude of Home Front pies, and their contribution really should not be underestimated.
Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe - You might know that Eleanor of Provence was a Queen of England as the wife of King Henry III. But you may not be aware that her three sisters also became Queens. In this book we follow Marguerite on Crusade, shy Sanchia as she tries to make the best of a marriage to her brother-in-law, and ambitious Beatrice and her desire to match her sisters for prestige.
Nazi Wives - As you can probably tell by the title, this book looks at the women who were married prominent Nazi men in Germany as the party rose to power. Yes, this is a bit of a depressing book, but it's also an important one. Not every woman was a "Girl Boss", not every woman in history was an angel who did marvellous work, and some attempts to change society are not aiming to change it for the benefit of all.
The Dark Queens - Another one from a period of history I know little about. The Dark Queens focuses on two Queens of Merovingian Francia in the sixith century. Not only did I learn about two incredibly powerful women, but I also got a better understanding of life in this period.
Daughters of the Winter Queen - Elizabeth Stuart, the daughter of King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) is known as the "Winter Queen" for her brief reign as Queen of Bohemia. It was through her that the Hanoverian family claimed the English throne, and in this book we follow the lives of her daughters, including the youngest Sophia, who married into the House of Hanover.
Debs at War - Another one delving into the Second World War. The young ladies in this book expected to experience lives of upper-class leisure. But instead of becoming "debutantes" presented at court, they donned uniforms and entered into the various branches of armed forces and civilian groups. Filled with recollections and interviews, this gives another great view of women's experiences in wartime.
The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire - As with other bits of history, I know bugger all about Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire. But this was a fascinating read and I felt like I learned a lot from it.
Scottish Queens, 1034-1714 - An alternative to all the English Queens and royals I've listed so far! Although the records on some of these women are quite scant, others have a great deal more known about this. This is a really good read for those interested in history north of the border.
Women's war diaries
Nella Last's War - Nella Last was a prolific diary writer for the Mass Observation Archives. This book in particular collects her diary entries during the Second World War and gives a detailed insight into how she, her family and her neighbours in Barrow-in-Furness were all affected by the impact of war.
These Wonderful Rumours! - May Smith was a Derbyshire teacher who kept a diary during the war. In the pages she candidly discusses the merits and downsides of her two gentlemen callers, recounts a great deal of tennis, and tracks her spending (prolific) and debts owed (also prolific).
Despatches from the Home Front: War Diaries of Joan Strange - The layout for this book is a little odd as it's been published a bit like a scrapbook, with additional photos and things in the margins. But it's still a really interesting read as Joan was a physiotherapist and also an energetic volunteer with organisations that supported Jewish refugees.
A Nurse at the Front: The First World War Diaries of Sister Edith Appleton - A quick break from the Second World War, this diary was kept by Edith Appleton during her stint as a nurse during the First World War. Edith was sent out to France to work close to the front line, and through her entries you get a real insight into the horrors of "The War to End All Wars" through the eyes of a dedicated healthcare worker.
Wartime Women - Last but not least, this book is a collection of different diary entries recorded by women for the Mass Observation Archive. All the entries are anonymised, and through them we see how women tried to survive and provide for their families during an exceptionally difficult time.
1 comment:
Absolutely love this list! I will definitely be adding a couple of these books to my TBR for the month, especially The Forbidden Wife. That's a part of history I haven't looked into much but I would like to!
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