I loved this book, taking different topics then finding the women involved in the causes was great, as was acknowledging that someone can do great things but are still complicated humans. The stories were balanced and interested and the book got me as fired up as Invisible Women

Difficult Women is a perfectly fitting title for this book; not because they were difficult but because it is definitely how they would’ve been portrayed at the time. Difficult in this sense actually means empowered, inspired and not afraid to speak the brutal truth. Not simply accepting that women should just put up and shut up about the lack of rights we have or once had in comparison to men. I am a firm believer in egalitarianism (equal rights for everyone) so I would class myself as a feminist but also someone who seeks equality across the board. I have read many, many books on this topic yet this was so refreshing and original showcasing those who have often been neglected in terms of their achievements. Sometimes fact-based nonfiction can be dry and a slog but I found this was eminently readable and raced through its thoroughly enjoyable pages like I would a fiction book. I urge those of you who wish to learn more about the history of feminism to pick this up. It’s well worth your time. Many thanks to Jonathan Cape for an ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I've read quite a few books about feminism and women's history, so I came to this feeling I knew most of the big stories about the fight. Boy, was I wrong. The majority of the women mentioned in this book I'd never even heard of, and I'm so glad Lewis wrote about them. The structure of the book, laying out how all the issues intertwine and winning one fight lays the groundwork for the other, was brilliant and thoroughly engaging. And above all, this book was hopeful - highlighting many of these less well-known feminists helps you to see that you don't have to be perfect to help the cause. A must-read for everyone.

A wonderful insight on great female figures in history and I say great because it covers so many largely unknown and uncovered (in books) women. It’s so interesting and educational even to someone who reads a lot of feminist histories. An inspiring book, one that shows is how much further we still have to go, but how far we have come too. Books like this are needed to remind people and encourage the fight onwards.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I absolutely adored this feminist historical book. Helen Lewis chooses 11 fights that women have fought to obtain equality with men, and dives deep into the women who were behind them. Not just presenting an airbrushed version, that the suffragettes fought for freedom, and Marie Stopes advised on contraception, but really diving in deep and acknowledging that sometimes, change is won by the most extreme of our peers, and not all of their opinions and stances will be in line with modern-day sensibilities. Nor even with those of their peers at the time. Covering votes, work, sex, love, play, divorce, and more, Lewis covers a range of topics with a frank and irreverent wit which brings a refreshing reality to a fight which is far from over, but has a chequered history to contend with. Covering feminists who thought that the vote should only be extended to married property owners and contraception advocates who supported eugenics, Lewis doesn't shy away from the unpleasant aspects of infighting and schisms in feminist activism. Fully aware of the fact that feminism is more than a single unifying movement, but rather a diverse collection of people who believe in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes (per Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie), and who are never going to agree on the best way to achieve this. Probably because it encompasses maybe half of the population of the world, if not more? So Lewis chooses her 11 fights, and dives deep into the structures which made them possible, warts and unpalatable opinions and all. From archival research to telephone interviews, to trips to interview the founder of the first women's refuge in the UK, who now campaigns for men's rights, Lewis doesn't flinch away from the conflicted, sometimes confusing underbelly of women's rights and women's fights. Presented throughout with an acknowledgement that women - all women - are imperfect and have their own particular biases, which will vary from person to person, Lewis also charts the race, gender, class, and sexuality boundaries which intertwine with the feminist movement, always acknowledging that there are many elements of intersectional feminism which by their very nature conflict with each other. Nuanced and layered, this is at once a primer for feminism and an accomplished study of eleven complex, oftentimes messy fights. Being nice doesn't get you anywhere - fights are won, and change accomplished, by difficult women. And Lewis has collected (and stands among) the best of them.

This was a really interesting book. A warts and all history of powerful figures in feminist history that have not always been recognised. I learned a lot about feminism, reproductive rights, the suffragettes and the women's movement, in a very accessible and well written way.

This book gave me a really good overview of some of the biggest (and often unremembered) feminist fights.
What I loved most about this book was the ethos behind it, that we need to be okay with difficult. We can't try to make things simple, we have to work with the grey and the unknown. The fight for equality isn't about a simple right and wrong, its messy and complex and that's okay.
It was an insightful, thoughtful, funny and accessible read.

* I received this book for free from Netgalley in return for an honest review

I thought I was pretty good on my history of women's rights and feminism, but found plenty in this eye-opening, thought-provoking and engaging book that was new to me.

In the book, Lewis charts key moments in womens history through 11 'fights' - key moments in history when the titular 'Difficult Women' have stood up and made change happen in society. These changes range from divorce laws protecting women's rights to have access to their children and property, the availability of safe and legal abortions, gaining votes for women after World War 1, establishing refuges for victims of domestic violence, achieving equal access to education and the changing roles of the female workforce. Each of these struggles is a separate chapter, with Lewis introducing us to some of the 'difficult women' who led the various movements.

What I loved about this book was that the stories told weren't the usual ones. For every Pankhurst in the chapter on votes for women, there were a whole host of lesser known but still fascinating women who played important roles in achieving the women's vote in 1918. I felt that I'd learnt about a whole new cast of feminists and so many different perspectives on feminist ideology. Lewis doesn't try to convince us that these women were perfect - she tackles head on some of the contradictions of feminism and the internal disagreements, for example not shying away from Marie Stopes interest in eugenics or the suffragettes willingness to do violent and terrible things to achieve their aims.

I'd wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in women's history or changing place in society. The book isn't - and doesn't claim to be - an exhaustive history of feminism, but it is lively and entertaining, well-researched and engrossing. The topics covered are fascinating and Lewis is a witty, perceptive and clear-sighted guide through some tricky subjects.