Bygone Badass Broads
Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, and I want to celebrate it with books! For this occasion, I’d like to recommend a truly exciting and short page-turner.
Content
This book presents 52 short biographies, accompanied by beautiful illustrations. The selected women come from all continents and historical periods and also include women of color.
From Empress Leizu to Lorraine Hansberry, the book covers a wide range: thematically as well, these women influenced history in many different fields. Unfortunately, they were often silenced or pushed out of historical narratives by those who wrote them.
What did I learn from the Bygone Badass Broads?
Many of these women were unknown to me, even though they were clearly relevant to the course of history. The ones who impressed me the most—perhaps in a wildly romantic way—were the pirate leader and the sword fighter: Zheng Yisao and La Maupin. What fascinated me most about them was probably how combative and assertive they were. They simply lived their lives without worrying too much about how society might judge them.
Rating
🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦 A delightful and entertaining read for in between!
Anyone expecting exciting biographies will not be disappointed. Ms. Lee’s style is very light and lively. None of the stories lack humor, and yet you can clearly tell that Ms. Lee researched them very carefully. I’d even wager that at least one of these women will have an inspiring effect on the lives of the readers of my blog.
Who would I give this book to?
Everyone. Really everyone. Because it simply shouldn’t be the case that these women are so unknown. The book is empowering and inspiring for people of all genders. Since the chapters are so short, anyone can find the time to read it – even if it’s just while brushing their teeth.
Which books would I recommend alongside it?
Books by Rachel Ignotofsky have a similar concept. They are beautifully illustrated by the author herself, and the women portrayed were chosen with great care. There are three different areas in which she aims to inspire readers: science, art, and sports. The titles are “Women in Science,” “Women in Art,” and “Women in Sports.” The target audience is children, so the language is easy to understand and the biographies are very short.
