Suffragettes: How Britain's Women Fought & Died for the Right to Vote

by Frank Meeres

A century ago, Britain was caught up in one of the most extraordinary events in the country's history - the struggle of its women to obtain the right to vote. While there had been petitions and discussions of the subject throughout the Victorian era, by the beginning of the twentieth century it was time for stronger action. Centralised organisations formed behind Millicent Fawcett and Emmeline Pankhurst. Protests, marches, civil disobedience and arrests followed as the campaign gained momentum. Women chained themselves to railings, smashed windows, committed arson, and Emily Davison died under the hooves of the king's horse on Derby Day 1913. The turning point was the First World War: after it women over the age of thirty obtained the vote at last, and full suffrage came ten years later. The suffragette movement forced every woman in early twentieth-century Britain to think about her place in society: this book looks at issues of vital importance to your ancestors of a century ago. Frank Meeres presents all the important developments in the suffrage movement in a succinct chronological way, bringing the history of the time vividly to life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism

169 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2013

Reviews

[Samantha Salsbury · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good introduction to the history of the suffragette movement. Would of appreciated information on the sources they used: some quotes were incredibly long. Felt that instead of reading this book, I could of just read the books that were quoted.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for my book club. Something I knew very little about apart from the basics. Despite the fact that at times it feels just like a list of names I did find it an easy read and I feel it was worthwhile to find out exactly what the struggle to get the vote for women was all about and what women sacrificed to achieve this.

[F · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badly written. Alright in content. Please stop adding surprised sentences in the middle of your text! It's very weird.

[Christian Ohlsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

My main hang-up is all the long unedited quotes. Half of the book seems to be quoted. Many times the quotes are two three pages long. On the other hand I learned a lot about the Suffraggettes.

[Lynette Twaddle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good overview, frustrating amount of exclamation marks...

[Agnesxnitt]

Sadly I have been struck with the Virus that won't die and I just ran out of concentration to get into this book.
Returned to the library for when I am on a more even keel!