HISTORICAL HEROINES

An irreverent romp through centuries of remarkable women

Author Michelle Rosenberg and Sonia D Picker Publisher Pen and Sword Books Price £15 Released Out now

In Historical Heroines: 100 Women You Should Know About, authors Michelle Rosenberg and Sonia D Picker take the reader through centuries of history, introducing the 100 women whom they believe we all need to know. Some are famous, some notorious and others might prove surprising as pirates, queens, scientists and more get their moment in the spotlight.

Having such a broad canvas will undoubtedly widen the appeal and readership of this entertaining book. It’s a quick and accessible read and with each woman’s achievements celebrated in a short biography, the pace is fast.

Although the format of short biographies means that occasionally stories will be familiar to some readers, there’s no time for a subject to outstay her welcome before the next comes along.

Rosenberg and Picker write with an engaging, light tone but their research is solid and their enthusiasm infectious. With a cast of characters ranging from polarising figures such as Marie Antoinette to legends including Sappho, Sacagawea and even Hedy Lamarr, more famed for her Hollywood career than her scientific discoveries, one can only imagine who was left on the cutting room floor. Historical Heroines is like a greatest hits collection of the vibrant role women have played in history. That’s no bad thing and for a casual history fan who’s looking to widen their knowledge and perhaps delve into some of history’s most remarkable women, this book offers 100 great starting points.