A History of the World in 21 Women: A Personal Selection Hardcover – October 9, 2018

Author Jenni Murray writes a much-needed book, celebrating women - their sacrifices and contributions to the ‘history of the world’.As gender bias has become a relevant topic worldwide regarding inequality in the workplace, Murray heralds the accomplishments by women in diverse disciplines.In politics she discusses Golda Meir, Dowager Empress Cixi, Catherine the Great, Hilary Rodham Clinton, and Benazir Bhutto, Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai, Singer Madonna Louise Ciccone, Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, artist Artemisia Gentileschi and others.Some of the fascinating stories include: Egyptian Pharaoh Hatshepsut who ruled in a man’s world for twenty-two years; and was represented as a male in the stone cravings of her palace.Hatshepsut was buried next to her father in the Valley of the Kings. Their emptied sarcophagi were discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter (of King Tut fame) in 1902.Joan of Arc heard voices and had visions of saints beginning at age 13. She received a message from God to save France from English invaders – helping King Charles VII in his coronation.Joan faced seventy (70) charges at her trial: witchcraft, heresy, and cross-dressing (said to be her worst crime) for which she was burned alive, then burned twice more. Her remains were thrown into the Seine River.A recommended read for anyone interested in the stories behind some of the most controversial and influential women in history.

If you know nothing at all about the women described in this book you might end up with a few basic facts but it's no help that Murray starts with someone as remote as Hatshepsut and continues with a religious bigot like Isabella and then it's the turn of Joan of Arc whose 'voices' ought to have had her put somewhere safe for her own good.Another reviewer sums up this book as 'teenage' reading and I wish I had read that before buying it.They might not have a decent magazine to read at the hairdresser's so take this along to pass the time. decent magazine to read at the hairdresser's take this along to fill the empty moments.s

I picked up this book to look for figures I could relate to and be inspired by. And I did find a few in this book, so it was worth reading for that. But in general I found the selections to be more in line with the author's preferences than historical merit: politicians and rulers were greatly overrepresented, at nearly half the entries, and despite purporting to be 'a history' all but a few came from the 19th and 20th centuries. The author also seemed to believe that a woman cannot be impressive or extraordinary unless she has defied the gender norms of her time and place. I had hoped to read a book that celebrated inspirational achievements by humans who happened to be women: not a continual depressing reminder that those achievements were managed in spite of being women. I found the writing style a little basic, but perhaps I am used to the formality of more academic books.

Not a huge fan of Feminists and I thought this book was pretty shallow with the obvious, expected, feminist bias. However, the author did introduce me to women that I knew very little about. If we women want "equality" we should also consider the men. I stopped listening to Women's Hour when it became, as I saw it, rabidly feminist. Equal opportunities yes: equal pay for equal work yes: but someone has to pay to keep companies going for the times women cannot work because of their biology.

I bought this book because Jenni Murray has been part of my listening for decades. I found the ancient history at the beginning a little slow ~ purely an interest thing. I’m not a Madonna fan but I found the rest fascinating. Marie Curie carrying test tubes of radium in her pocket fascinated me and showed how much she contributed to science, particularly medicine.

I went to see Jenni speaking about this at the Chester Literary Festival - her insights into the ladies involved were fascinating. I had never really thought before about the barriers to me being me and getting on in life. Some fascinating insights into a variety of women who break down the barriers and make the world a better place - leaving their mark as they do.