Hello,

Today, to mark the close of Women’s History Month, we have a selection of books about women to share with you. They are filled with stories of inspiring, memorable and interesting lives: from an 18th century celebrity, to unsung women who made remarkable contributions in medicine, sport and social justice, via pioneers of women’s education and world-renowned artists, these books relate an admirable range of female achievement.

books about women with inspiring lives

The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience, by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton

As the title of the Clintons’ book suggests, it gathers the stories of women who have achieved remarkable things. From writers to environmentlists, politicians to doctors, it celebrates women who have dared to ‘get the job done’.

Bloody Brilliant Women: The Pioneers, Revolutionaries and Geniuses Your History Teacher Forgot to Meniton by Cathy Newman

While Gusty Women includes many women you may already have heard about, Cathy Newman’s  book introduces some you probably won’t have encountered before. Their achievements are just as memorable, from Beatrice Shilling, a motorbike-racing enthusiast who improved the engines in Spitfire aircraft to Claudia Jones, founder of the Notting Hill Carnival, the story of their lives is fascinating and uplifting.

Perdita: The Life of Mary Robinson, by Paula Byrne

In this readable and engaging biography, Paula Byrne relates the story of Mary Robinson, 18th century celebrity, actress, mistress to the most powerful men in England and, later, a successful novelist, essayist and poet admired by Coleridge, among many others.

Mutual Admiration Society: How Dorothy L Sayers and Her Oxford Circle Remade the World for Women, by Mo Moulton

The crime writer Dorothy L Sayers and her friends, self-styled ‘The Mutual Admiration Society’, were among the first women to be able to take a degree at Oxford University. They remained friends for the rest of their lives and contributed as writers, thinkers, historians and in the fields of maternity care and women’s health, while working to create a culture that would welcome women on a more equal footing with men.

We hope we may have whetted your appetite for a new book; if you’re looking for further ideas, we have even more suggestions on our Reading list page.

Until next time, happy reading!

Claire and Sam