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  • Bloody Brilliant Women

  • The Pioneers, Revolutionaries and Geniuses Your History Teacher Forgot to Mention
  • By: Cathy Newman
  • Narrated by: Cathy Newman
  • Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (31 ratings)
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Bloody Brilliant Women

By: Cathy Newman
Narrated by: Cathy Newman
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Summary

A fresh, opinionated history of all the brilliant women you should have learned about in school but didn’t. 

For hundreds of years we have heard about the great men of history, but what about herstory?

In this freewheeling history of modern Britain, Cathy Newman writes about the pioneering women who defied the odds to make careers for themselves and alter the course of modern history; women who achieved what they achieved while dismantling hostile, entrenched views about their place in society. Their role in transforming Britain is fundamental, far greater than has generally been acknowledged, and not just in the arts or education but in fields like medicine, politics, law, engineering and the military.

While a few of the women in this book are now household names, many have faded into oblivion, their personal and collective achievements mere footnotes in history. We know of Emmeline Pankhurst, Vera Brittain, Marie Stopes and Beatrice Webb. But who remembers engineer and motorbike racer Beatrice Shilling, whose ingenious device for the Spitfires’ Rolls-Royce Merlin fixed an often-fatal flaw, allowing the RAF’s planes to beat the German in the Battle of Britain? Or Dorothy Lawrence, the journalist who achieved her ambition to become a WW1 correspondent by pretending to be a man? And developmental biologist Anne McLaren, whose work in genetics paved the way for in vitro fertilisation?

Blending meticulous research with information gleaned from memoirs, diaries, letters, novels and other secondary sources, Bloody Brilliant Women uses the stories of some extraordinary lives to tell the tale of 20th and 21st century Britain. It is a history for women and men. A history for our times.

©2018 Cathy Newman (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"A litany of fresh heroes to make the embattled heart sing." (Caitlin Moran)

"Newman is a brilliant writer." (ObserverI)

"Powerful, poignant and often provoking: Bloody Brilliant Women shines a light on the contribution of women of all ages, ethnicities, faiths and backgrounds who have helped to make our city and country so great. Cathy Newman narrates the stories of women who have helped shape the world in which we live today, by challenging gender stereotypes, smashing glass ceilings and blazing a trail for the next generation to follow. Eloquently written and hugely enjoyable to read, Bloody Brilliant Women provides a timely reminder of how hard women have already had to fight and why no-one’s life chances should be limited - or their career dictated - solely because of their gender." (Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London)

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well researched, well written, well presented

Cathy’s approach to this important subject shines a light on generations of inspirational women, finding a pleasing balance between informing and entertaining. This book can doubtless help inspire future generations of women to achieve their potential - and men (like me) to play their part in progressing our society towards true gender equality.

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Brilliant..

What a bloody brilliant woman!!
Loved it!!
So interesting and enjoyable
More please
Thank you

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Excellent

I loved this book and found it so inspiring. A history of feminism told through the achievements and struggles of Women. It was very eye opening and informative too. Read by the author which I love too.

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Absolutely Brilliant

This book was as the title suggests brilliant. A real history on Women's achievements over the last 100 years. This was the history education I wish I was taught in school and I'm sure I would have found much more interesting. A really uplifting book showing what change women can achieve and how when we overcome the obstacles in front of us we really can make the world a better place. The book explores different perspectives on feminism and really highlights some of the myths that are being spun to separate women. My only criticism is it is heavily focused on the Britain, perhaps a second book can take an international perspective?

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Great feminist book

My only negative comment is that there isn't much of a gap from the end of the sentence to the next chapter starting making it hard to stop listening at that point.

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