What to read for International Women's Day 2024
Celebrated annually on 8th March, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on how far women’s rights have come and how far we still need to go. We’ve put together a list of fantastic books about and by inspiring women. Whether you’re looking for a nonfiction book about remarkable trailblazers, or novels with compelling heroines, we have the one for you.
Tiger Woman: A Wild Life
Betty May
From her birth in one of the poorest districts in London, to the bohemian society she mingled with and modelled for, to secret ceremonies with High Priests and Mystics, Tiger Woman: A Wild Life is the thrilling account of the life of Betty May, told in her own words.
Charming and vivid in her descriptions of love affairs, gang warfare and the taste of sweet champagne, Betty May is a force to be reckoned with. Not all of her stories in the book are grand adventures: she recounts vicious fights and her drug addiction in tender, moving descriptions.
A compelling memoir written by a complex woman, Tiger Woman is an insight into the inter-war years from the muse’s perspective. Pour yourself a glass of champagne and sit down with Betty May this International Women’s Day.
Hotbed
Joanna Scutts
This exploration of early twentieth-century feminists by Joanna Scotts is an essential read this International Women’s Day.
Hotbed transports readers to 1912 New York City, unveiling the clandestine meetings of ‘Heterodoxy’, a pioneering social club of women activists. With fervent dedication they championed suffrage, labour rights, equal marriage and free love.
It encapsulates the audacious spirit that transformed feminist ideals into reforms. Through its pages, readers witness the convergence of women from all sections of society.
As International Women’s Day approaches, this dazzling, never-told-before history stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of those who dared to challenge norms.
Black Butterflies
Priscilla Morris
Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize, Black Butterflies is the perfect example of one women’s resilience in the face of extreme turmoil.
Sarajevo. Spring 1992. Zora faces a city under siege. As the assault deepens and everything that she loves is laid to waste, Zora is forced to rebuild herself, over and over. Her story is one of darkness, hope, and unexpected beauty.
This exquisitely crafted debut by Priscilla Morris will move and inspire you this International Women’s Day.
The Soviet Sisters
Anika Scott
Cold War thrillers are often associated with male spies in long trench coats, smoking in alcoves while the rain pours. The Soviet Sisters by Anika Scott challenges that stereotype.
Told from the perspective of two sisters, Marya and Vera, in post-war Berlin, The Soviet Sisters is an atmospheric exploration of how sisterhood can unravel in the face of divided loyalties and differing politics.
When Marya, an interpreter liaising with the British, gets caught in secret agent Vera’s web of deceit, she must make desperate choices to survive – and to protect those she loves.
Gripping from start to finish, if you’re looking for a historical fiction novel with morally complex female characters and a scintillating plot, then look no further.
