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Women’s History Month Reading List 2020

8 Books About Remarkable Women in History Ideal For Diving Into This Month

Mar 22 2020

You've probably heard of Marie Curie, but do you know the story of her daughter Irène, who brought X-rays to the battlefields of WWI, won a Nobel Prize, and was instrumental in the development of nuclear fission and power? You may know of the WWII spy Virginia Hall from books and movies, but have you heard of the unassuming bravery of Andrée Griotteray, the French Resistance fighter who smuggled intelligence to the Allies and helped people escape occupied France, right under the Nazis' noses? Many of the most revolutionary and innovative women in history performed their remarkable feats under the radar, and this Women's History Month is the perfect opportunity to hear their stories.

Next month, Emily Warren Roebling, the untrained engineer who took over the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, will get the spotlight in my debut novel, The Engineer's Wife. Learn her story below, and get seven more books recommendations, a mix of non-fiction and historical fiction, that will reveal the unheralded or shed new light on women you thought you knew.

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Andrée’s War: How One Young Woman Outwitted the Nazis by Francelle Bradford White

The daughter of Andrée Griotteray reveals what her mother was too modest to share in her book Andrée's War. At 19 years of age, Griotteray worked in a passport department in occupied Paris. She joined her brother's underground intelligence and communication network, and stole and forged documents to help the persecuted escape France. Working side by side with Nazis, she risked her life every day, and was eventually betrayed and arrested. This fascinating account is the first time her story has been made available in English, and it's a must-read for Women's History Month.

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Marie Curie and Her Daughters: The Private Lives of Science's First Family by Shelley Emling

Marie Curie and Her Daughters is a biography that tells the story not only the quite well-known Madame Curie, but also her two daughters, Irène and Eve. The three of them broke barriers in chemistry and physics, saved lives by introducing x-rays during World War 1, and travelled extensively on speaking tours to educate the public on new developments. This book includes actual letters written by the Curies, and it's a fascinating journey for anyone interested in science or women's history.

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The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

Like some other women on this list, Mileva Maric was a ground-breaking scientist, overshadowed by a much more famous husband. But the wife of Albert Einstein was a genius in her own right, who may have had a critical role in his most famous work: the theory of relativity. The Other Einstein brings her story to life, along with the barriers faced by women in science.

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The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

If you didn't already believe librarians are superheroes in disguise, just wait until you learn about the Pack Horse Librarians of Depression-era Appalachia. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek brings to vivid life the women who rode horseback through poverty stricken and desperate places, where prejudice and persecution ruled, in order to bring books and other resources to a population starved for them.

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Bygone Badass Broads: 52 Forgotten Women Who Changed the World by Mackenzi Lee

If you want to learn about dozens of trailblazing women, forgotten by history, look no further than Bygone Badass Broads. Mackenzi Lee's brief and witty bios shine light on women who defied the norms, and paved the way for women of today.

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The Engineer’s Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood

The Engineer's Wife is based on the true story of Emily Warren Roebling, whose life was transformed when she was asked to complete her husband's magnum opus—the Brooklyn Bridge, a project of unthinkable scale. In this historical fiction novel, she journeys into the bowels of the East River, suffragette riots, the halls of Manhattan's elite, and the heady, freewheeling temptations of her new friend P.T. Barnum. And yes, she completes the bridge and becomes the first person to walk across it.

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The Heart is a Burial Ground by Tamara Colchester

Anyone who loves a scandal could hardly resist reading The Heart Is A Burial Ground, about Caressa Crosby. This novel explores the notorious American blue-blooded publisher, whose love affairs, wild parties, and drug use were shocking, even for the Roaring '20s. She defied laws by dating a black man, published the most controversial authors, and somewhere along the way invented the bra. This multi-generational look at women who knew no boundaries is hugely entertaining and riveting.

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A Black Women's History of the United States by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross

Hear the many voices of black women, from the enslaved, to religious leaders, artists and activists, in A Black Women's History of the United States. Be enchanted by their determination and grit, and humbled by their bravery in the face of oppression. This not-to-be missed non-fiction book reveals women who were instrumental in developing our country, and celebrates their spirit and courage.

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