Votes For Women!: The Pioneers and Heroines of Female Suffrage

by Jenni Murray

Mary Wollstonecraft, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Millicent Fawcett, Emmeline Pankhurst, Constance Markievicz, Nancy Astor They terrorised the establishment. They fought for the vote. They pushed back boundaries and revolutionised our world. For the hundredth anniversary of the historic moment the franchise was finally extended to women, here is a selection of suffragette and suffragist activists and pioneering MPs from the pages of Jenni Murray’s bestselling A History of Britain in 21 Women. Set against the backdrop of a world where equality is still to be achieved, it is a vital reminder of the great women who fought for change.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, History

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 5, 2018

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at 6 women who were part of the suffrage movement. Lots of lovely titbits and facts and written in an engaging and funny way!

[Lisa Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I am getting my feminist on.

I love reading books about strong women. Women who have helped change the course of history. In some of the books that I have read about this topic I have felt myself bogged down by a lot of information, almost like the author is trying to give everything to convince you.

Jenni Murray doesn’t do that. She knows the validity of the women she has chosen to write about and she knows the part they have played and the impact on the change of the world. She gives you enough interesting information to keep intrigued and maybe make you want to find out more. She never gives you so much that you feel bored.

The women that she has chosen to write about, some better known than others have all had a massive impact on the way we live our lives today. It was a pleasure to read about them.

Votes for Women! The Pioneers and Heroines of Female Suffrage (from the pages of A History of Britain in 21 Women) by Jenni Murray is available now.

For more information regarding Jenni Murray (@whjm) please visit www.bbc.co.uk/womanshour.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at the leading lights of the woman's suffrage movement over a wide range of tactics such as the more forthright Nancy astor to the peaceful protests of milli cent fawcett. this book also includes trailblazers such as constance markievicz and Elizabeth garnett Anderson who was the first female doctor in the UK. really thought provoking

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! A beautiful edition and a great choice of women to feature. I loved how the story developed through the featured women, linking each of their stories into the meta narrative and the important reminder of our hard fought citizenship.

I also loved the format of the little portrait and quote at the beginning of each chapter.

[Pedro Trujillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commemorative and interesting way of celebrating women and their contribution to history, a necessary history

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only a short read, but very illuminating. Makes me want to learn more.

[Kate Jenner · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little read about various key members of the female suffrage movement in the UK. Took me ages to read though as I had various other novels on the go which piqued my interest more.

[Gisela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting, can’t believe I didn’t already know all this information about these amazing women. One for the national curriculum!

[Sophie Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book - easy to read and digest.

[Stevie Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but concise history of some of the women who fought for women’s right to vote. Not overloading/overwhelming with information.

[Oz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The history points seem accurate, and some of the author's anecdotes are good inclusions, but I was expecting a much more progressive book than I got. The only feminists discussed are those best known - all of them white and well educated. I think the quote that best sums up the book's failures is:

"It seems astonishing that such a rational, clever woman could have allowed herself to be used and abused by a man."

[Wendyanne Pegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice short and sweet look at 6 of the women know for fighting to improve women's ability to vote

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s worth noting that this book, while wonderful, is a ‘highlights of’ Murray’s “A History of Britain in 21 Women”, and that with the exception of the introduction, there is no new material.

[Julia Shumway · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a quick read that provided a basic framework for the history of suffrage in the UK.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you haven’t read Murray’s other book then this is a great book for you! The issue is, if you have read A History of Britain in 21 Women then there is nothing new in here.

It’s a good introduction to the Suffragists and the Suffragettes but there is nothing new in here. There was scope for more women to be included in this book and they’re just not there. Even the women who are in this book, they’re lives are not embellished in but the chapters are lifted directly from the book on Britain.

If I was making this list, I would have included more women like Emily Davison and others.