Herstory (Simon)

A very special collection of short biographies offers insightful sketches of the lives and accomplishments of 150 of history's most influential and brilliant women, including Clara Barton, the legendary Trung Sisters of medieval Vietnam, and many others. Ranging from an ancient Egyptian ruler (Queen Hatshepsut) to a contemporary athlete (Billie Jean King), these highly readable thumbnail sketches cover areas from literature to politics, fashion to aviation, music to science. The 120 entries offer concise overviews of specific women's lives and accomplishments, with a thoughtful blend of professional and personal details. In addition to often-profiled figures (Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt), the collection also includes less well known but influential women like the seventh-century Chinese ruler Wu Chao and Vietnamese activist Nguyen Thi Binh. The team of nine women authors (including Ashby and Ohrn) employs a conversational tone that encourages leisurely browsing. Many selections are prefaced with a revealing excerpt from the subject's writings, and each is accompanied by a photograph or artistic likeness. Ages 10-up.

RUTH ASHBY is a children’s book editor, teacher, and writer. Born in Huntington, New York, she studied English literature at Yale University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Virginia, where she served on the executive committee of the Women’s Studies Program and taught courses on women in literature. She presently teaches part-time at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. The author of four nonfiction books for children, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.
DEBORAH GORE OHRN has a master’s degree in American history with a concentration in women’s history from the University of Iowa.