Bloody brilliant women : the pioneers, revolutionaries and geniuses your history teacher forgot to mention

This engaging feminist history delves into the lives of remarkable women who significantly impacted British society from the mid-nineteenth century onward. Channel 4 journalist Cathy Newman highlights the motivations of these determined individuals who defied tradition and societal norms to create opportunities for themselves. While some figures like Emmeline Pankhurst and Marie Stopes are well-known, many others remain obscure, their contributions overlooked. For instance, few recognize Beatrice Shilling, an engineer whose innovation was vital for the RAF during WWII, or Dorothy Lawrence, who disguised herself as a man to become a war correspondent. The narrative also honors Anne McLaren, whose genetic research was instrumental in developing in vitro fertilization. The book celebrates the journey from the 1918 Representation of the People Act, which granted some women the right to vote, to Margaret Thatcher's departure from Downing Street in 1990. Blending meticulous research with insights from memoirs, letters, and novels, it recounts the evolution of feminism shaped by class, wealth, and significant historical events. By acknowledging the foundational work of earlier feminists like Mary Wollstonecraft and Octavia Hill, this history seeks to restore these pioneering women to their rightful place in the narrative of British history.