A book that gives us the history of Britain through the incredible women who helped it along, Bloody Brilliant Women is a book I didn’t anticipate but the one I have been waiting for.

Expecting another book of profiles I must admit, Bloody Brilliant Women doesn’t do this. Instead we see Newman bring these women to life and tie these chapters together with the experiences they lived through but also bringing to life more amazing women. In particularly women such as Beatrice Shilling, who I feel more people should know about considering the important work she did in world war two in aviation.

Newman also has such a great writing style. Full of humour and a sharp wit that keeps this book such an entertaining read, (particularly when it comes to men’s opinions on what they feel women should want) brought a smirk to my face far too many times in this book. Throughout this book also she includes the perspectives of all women’s experience and includes a diverse range of views and how events affected different women in that period.

An incredible book that details the lives and times of the women who should be in your history classes, Bloody Brilliant Women, is bloody brilliant.

This is one bloody brilliant book. I really enjoyed reading this!

Can you believe females were not accepted as members of Universities, like Cambridge, until 1948? Now I know!

Starting from roughly in 1880-ies, the book features different female figures from Britain's history, some known, some I've never heard before (like Sarah Forbes Bonetta, delivered as a gift to Queen Victoria) and tells their stories blending with that day's political and social background. Explores and explains, the difference it makes being a working class or middle class woman, the marriage laws and how they formed through time, how the society's perception for working women changed, sex, abortion, how WW2 changed a lot of things for women..

From Virginia Woolf to Effie Gray, Babbington Smith to Jane Drew, this book covers a lot of women that took their own small but important parts of history. I liked it as it mentions a lot of lesser known females, and the way it tells is very casual and easy to follow. Not a book just highlight Suffragettes but talks a lot of other women who are part of history and development of the modern day and women's rights.

I found myself highlighting and bookmarking passages of this ebook throughout because of just how many fantastic British women it brought under the spotlight (often, the first time in decades they have been spoken about). Cathy Newman does an incredible job of seamlessly collecting these women's stories, from all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities, in to a story that weaves across the 20th and 21st centuries.

Her opening chapters highlight how much of our modern history ISN'T taught in school and her own quest to educate herself on the fantastic females that in many cases shaped the present day.

If you've been lucky enough to read Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 1 & 2 some of the women's stories will be familiar; these books are not only brilliantly written and engaging but also vital in giving a voice to forgotten females, and inspiring a whole new generation of feminists, both girls and boys.

Featuring war time heroines to sexual revolutionaries, scientists, journalists, politicians and MPs, directors, tech entrepreneurs and businesswomen, this book is certainly brimming with inspirational and aspirational women.

Of course Cathy Newman herself is a bloody brilliant woman; presenting Channel 4 News, she received a terrible (but sadly not unique) amount of death threats and online abuse after challenging Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson on his views on topics such as the gender pay gap and equality (two things a female journalist on TV knows a fair bit about). Though her experience was an horrific example of the kinds of abuse just being a female in the public eye attracts, she is certainly well-placed to write this book.

Newman acknowledges the fact that Feminism has historically done (and many argue still does) more for middle-class white women than any other kind and that many women simultaneously face additional hurdles of discrimination that shapes gender in complex ways. Her bibliography and notes reference a broad range of texts, mostly by British women, that evidence a well-researched and balanced book; often pointing out the contradictions and opposing views of both feminism and the women featured.

I really enjoyed my journey throughout this book and feel grateful for the introduction to new British female icons.

This was a great read, but I definitely think it's a book to be dipped in and out of instead of reading it all in one go, as I did. It's incredibly accessible, but I think I would have taken a little bit more in if I'd had a little time to process in between chapters.

That being said, there are some phenomenal facts and stories in this book. My favourite fact was that the first woman to vote in the UK did so by accident, they mistakenly gave her permission to vote because she owned a crockery shop - giving her the land ownership qualification needed to allow a person to vote - and she went and voted anyway. There were a lot of little nuggets such as that which just flesh out some history lessons, pulling women into the forefront of issues.

My one wish was that this book focussed on ancient women, or women from before Victorian times. Yes, we have less written information about women from further back but there are still some equally interesting stories. That is most certainly a case of personal bias, however, and someone with more of an interest in 'modern' history would possibly feel the opposite.

If you're looking for a non-fiction history book to keep you occupied then I think this would be an excellent choice. It's very aware of a lot of the problems and prejudices that still affect the study of women in history and the author is also hugely aware of her own privileges which refreshing. You learn a huge amount and it is certainly something you could dip in and out of as needed.

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a digital advanced review copy of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I read a few of these to my daughters, as I think every girl should know about the fantastic women in our history as well as our lifetime. A brilliant celebration of women and all we can achieve.

If your history is occasionally a bit wonky, then you may have trouble placing the events and people in context in this book.  Some of the older historical accounts of women you really should know more about are well framed. Later it becomes somewhat confusing, and is more an account of what women did in the two world wars than about individuals. The author uses these events more to talk about the trends in feminism and progress towards equality than specific achievements by pioneers and geniuses.

Most of the writing is engaging.  I thoroughly enjoyed the first half, although it is hard to put down partly because it is a large book divided into very few (8) chapters. The post-war descriptions seemed to develop more into a rant on the theme of feminist emancipation. Some sections seem like anecdotes illustrating some point without really explaining anything about the women involved (Harold Wilson's secretary being a prime case in point).

However, the author develops our understanding of the prevailing arguments over the role of women by explaining 'what women want' from the several perspectives. Paternalistic politicians, strong-minded well-educated mostly white women, factory workers and miners' wives, and second generation immigrants.  Well, not so much the last, but she does point out that there is a further racial barrier to be overcome. I want to follow-up references to understand this better. The extensive bibliography will help me look up some of the names that interest me.

The further I read, the more sections I highlighted. Most are in the section on Thatcher. This seemed to be well analysed, or at least it chimes with my own beliefs and understanding.  But then, as she cites from some surveys (MORI): 'throughout her term as prime minister, middle-aged and older women especially stuck with her, though over time younger women swerved to the left.' I'll buy that.

After that I particularly highlighted names I'd like to know more about.

Ms Newman finishes with a run-down of women of our current era who are doing great things, whether in business, politics, social and health welfare, science and technology, arts, architecture, writing...  I was pleased she included astronomer Maggie Aderin-Pocock, who was warned off studying science at school...

I think it is an important book, of interest not only to British women, but women in other countries too.  It may even be important enough for me to buy a fully formatted paper based book to keep on my shelf for reference.

The cover alone simply invites you to read the contents. This is about inspirational powerful, strong women. Written in such a beautiful manner-it takes you completely by surprise. Even at 39, I learnt facts about women that I didn't know about. First class book.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for giving me the opportunity to read ’Bloody Brilliant Women’ in exchange for my honest unbiased review.

Dear history, meet herstory.

As a black migrant female, I am always conscious about the complexities of present day and prior models of feminism, and the likelihood to brush past interaectionality that is at play in The multidimensional plight for equality. This book is a good effort in giving as many sects of womanhood a seat at the table; a voice.

I thought I knew my feminist history and this tore that to pieces and retold it to me. The omission of dates in the publisher’s draft was a bit of a hurdle, but the devil in the detail; fact-checking and contextual nuances added in to flesh out some of the gritty facts of life as a woman in yesteryears makes for a great non-fiction read.

This book uncovers the ‘pioneers, revolutionaries and geniuses your history teacher forgot to mention’. Read about women such as engineer Beatrice Shilling, whose work played a role in helping RAF pilots in the Battle of Britain, and developmental biologist Anne McLaren, whose work paved the way for IVF.

Brilliant book, well researched and well built up. I believe it is for anyone and it could be a great present for anyone. Historically correct and eye opening.

UK readers may be familiar with Cathy Newman from her role as journalist and presenter on Channel Four’s nightly news programme. She has a very direct but completely amicable style that often disarms the people that she interviews. This easygoing style translates into her written prose and what could be a dull and dry subject is a lively journey through the ages.

My only real gripe with this book celebrating great women in history is the cover. A terribly misleading choice of artwork that has more akin with a Jacqueline Wilson tweenies novel than a celebration of female pioneers. That’s not to say that it shouldn’t be given to older teenagers to read, as a sixteen year old I would have devoured a book like this and been inspired to step away from the norm.

Reading this book over the weekend of the centennial commemorations of the ending of the first world war has been particularly poignant. Reading about the struggles of early pioneers in education, nursing, science and literature has been especially interesting in the context of the work that these women undertook in the absence of the men during the war years.

One of the biggest surprises for me was learning more about Scottish family planning pioneer Marie Stopes. Famous for her campaigning for women’s rights and a woman’s right to birth control she was also a devout advocate of eugenics and the purification of the race. So much so that when her only son married a woman who wore glasses she cut him out of her will. Horrified that he would even consider having children with someone who was genetically faulty.

Bloody Brilliant Women should be an addition to every A Level History reading list so that everyone can appreciate the strength and depth that women have brought – and continue to bring – to society, politics, literature, science, medicine. Indeed every aspect of life. Brava Cathy Newman!

Provided by Net Galley and William Collins in exchange for an honest review.

UK Publication Date: Oct 4 2018. 336 pages.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about all of these women I had not known existed. If these are the women Cathy Newman personally picked out to write about, how many more have there been that are not widely known about? I'll be passing this book on to my friends and family.

Energetic and take, Newman's broad history of women emerged from her discovery at school reading history books that apart from Mrs Thatcher and queen Elizabeth there were next to mine British women mentioned. She feels strong women, equal to men, are the answer and lauds such women coming to power in the way men can do. Journalistic and also full of lots of stories, affecting and funny, this might while away many hours happily..

This is a smart well written book that really highlights and draws attention to the massive impact women have had in history with regard to inventions, politics and society that has been swept aside.

It might get lost in the embarrassment of riches of profiles of amazing women books, which is a shame, because this is good. Very good.

Why was I not taught about these women at school?

The pages are full of women who are a real inspiration.

I shall be buying copies for my family and friends (of both gender) and singing it praises from the rooftop.

An enjoyable read and full of details for the budding feminists out there. A lot of details about women I knew about such as Dorothy Lawrence and the Pankhursts but well worth reading.

When I saw this book was up for a review I jumped at the chance to read it.
History books are littered with heroic men who have shaped the world we live in today.
But what about the women?
The history books seem to have forgotten about the women. Of course we know about Emmeline Pankhurst, Marie Stopes and a few others, but what do we know of engineer and motorbike racer Beatrice Shilling, whose ingenious device for the Spitfires' Rolls-Royce Merlin fixed an often-fatal flaw, allowing the RAF's planes to beat the Germans in the Battle of Britain?
Or Dorothy Lawrence, the journalist who achieved her ambition to become a WW1 correspondent by pretending to be a man?
Or development biologist Anne McClaren, whose work in genetics paved the way for in vitro fertilisation?
And then we have the women who paved the way for council housing in Britain, municipal swimming pools and humane laws relating to property ownership, child custody and divorce wouldn't exist in quite the same way without these heroic women included in this book.
These trailblazing women, and many more, deserve the same recognition that their male counterparts were afforded. From the 1918 Representation of the People Act - which allowed some women the right to vote - through to the ousting of Margaret Thatcher from Downing Street, and beyond.
The book is a brilliant read, a humbling read, a read that will enrage you on behalf of these women for the way in which they were very often belittled. Bloody Brilliant Women was written using meticulous research with information gleaned from memoirs, diaries, letters, novels and other secondary sources. The author uses the stories of some extraordinary lives to tell the tale of 20th and 21st century Britain. It's a history for both women and men. A history for our times.
I hadn't heard of half of these women and that made me both sad and mad at the same time. Why were these women overlooked? Very often what they achieved, created, defended, fought for and much, much more was more incredible than some of the men who have been included in the history books.
The book is very thought provoking. It's very humbling. It's a bloody brilliant read and I highly recommend it.

Until 1948, women who graduated from Cambridge University were denied the honour of graduating with a full degree that would make them members of the university. Their name were not on the degree ceremony list. Women graduates should be satisfied with mailed university certificates, a titular degree.

70 years on, and women are shattering one glass ceiling after another. There are still obstacles to overcome but there is a lot to celebrate and reflect on. Breaking the silences surrounding patriarchy, women all around are continually shaking rules and values that specify how men and women should act in order to be safe and protected. “We are going through a feminist revival. By reclaiming our fears, we found our true and honest voices. This tremendous need to communicate our own feelings became the seed for resistance and transformation.

We have come a long way in the past 100 years. We own a lot to the suffrage pioneers that took their courage in their own hands, refusing a destiny that subordinated them. Journalist and presenter Cathy Newman writes about these talented women and their accomplishments, their hard-won fight to vote, to win the right to say how they wanted to be governed, to be included. She tells the story of these bloody brilliant women who put their lives and freedom at risk to secure the basic democratic rights, at a time when women had few legal rights. In the process, they raised issues that have had a profound impact in our lives, they changed laws and social norms, indeed, they transform Britain. These women were writers, artists, human rights activists, political thinkers, scientists, and pioneers of cultural change.

Emmeline Pankhurst, Vera Brittain, Marie Stopes, Beatrice Shilling, women who worked at Bletchley, Rosalind Franklin, Bell Burnell, Margaret Thatcher, and female MPs of today, are some of the well-known and less well-known women covered in this fascinated and well-researched book.

A bloody brilliant book, a recognition for all these intelligent, fearless and inspirational women who have been largely forgotten in history. Read this book and then give it to your daughters and granddaughters, to your sons and grandsons.

Sometimes it can feel as if women have been airbrushed out of history, and this book is an excellent start for anyone wishing to remedy the lack of focus on female achievement. From some of the less well-known suffragettes, through the lives of the women who worked at Bletchley, to the female MPs of today, the author looks at the changing life of women since the Enlightenment.

Many things have changed of course, but it is disheartening to see how some things have stayed the same; women facing misogyny, threats and abuse for daring to want a life outside the home and family. This book shows us that there is still a lot of work to be done before there is true equality. I liked that the author highlighted the importance of intersectional feminism and that she discusses some figures who are controversial (Margaret Thatcher, anyone?). It is definitely worth wondering why female figures can never be fallible in the same way as men, and why they are judged as representing all women whilst men are individuals. Overall, a fascinating look at what women have actually achieved and I definitely learned something new.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, HarperCollins UK, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

Women have been forced to live with being made to feel like the inferior sex for centuries, but boy am I glad that people are now attempting to set the record straight. I am a huge proponent of equality whether that be surrounding gender, race, religion, or anything else for that matter, so this book was right up my street and we certainly need many more like it! Intelligence and achievement are not reliant on being a particular gender, and although we have made some consistent progress, there is still a long way to go to accomplish gender equality. It's a cause that is very close to my heart as I have campaigned for many years on this issue. Unfortunately, with those such as Toddler Trump in power, we most likely will not make any more progress around this for some time, and we have to hope that those with dangerous ideologies don't manage to turn the clock back on what has rightly become a matter of priority.

Reading this book and familiarising ourselves with the women who sing from its pages is the first step we can make to have our often momentous achievements celebrated alongside those of men. Not only are these women truly inspirational, but they also took charge of their lives and some of them broke down barriers to do what they wished, no matter the consequences. Some of their accomplishments are made all the more incredible by the times in which some of these women lived - when the world appeared to belong to men. This book charts women who did great things from the 1880s right through to 2017 - Featured are strong women, fearless women and pioneering women, with each of them showing that they're just as entitled as men to be recognised for their feats.

One of the books core strengths is that it brings to attention some of the lesser-known women from historical periods who deserve the spotlight to be shone on them. It shouldn't have taken this long for that to happen, but better late than never, to coin an old adage. It looks at each of the women in depth and in the context of the political and social climate of the times in which they lived. Detailed, accessible and chock full of useful and interesting information on a plethora of wonderous women, all of whom added something important to British history. Newman's writing is beautifully flowing, although I felt the book could have been better structured as each of the women's stories seemed to run into one another with no discernible sign that we had moved on to the next study.

Not only will you enjoy this if you're an advocate for women's rights, but feminists and history buffs will also appreciate the information in this book (and yes, there is a difference between those who fight for the rights of women and a feminist.) I know I'll return to it again and again. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to William Collins for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Cathy Newman has written a very detailed and accessible book shining a light on the many women who have been hidden from history. Looking at remarkable women such as Ada Nield Chew, Ellen Wilkinson and Jayaben Desai, Bloody Brilliant Women spans nearly 140 years of British history.

As someone who studies women's history and social history, I'm ashamed to say there were so many names in the book I'd not heard of before. Can't recommend this book enough!

4.5 stars.

My husband recently bought my daughter the children’s book, Fantastically Great Women Who Made History, written by Kate Pankhurst.
After reading it with her I remember thinking two things ‘yay for my husband’ and ‘I wish there was something like this for adults’.
BEHOLD, Bloody Brilliant Women.
Journalist and presenter Cathy Newman has plugged a gap in the market and I, for one, am incredibly grateful.
I can’t remember learning about any women in my humanities lessons, although I’m sure there were some - it was 30ish years ago and my memory isn’t what it was.
This book goes further, though, not just highlighting already well known women but “…the pioneers, revolutionaries and geniuses your history teacher forgot to mention”.
It’s a lively book that isn’t just readable but relatable. It’s also funny in places and definitely makes you think.
Suggesting the Bayeux Tapestry could be a precursor to the Daily Mail’s 'side bar of shame' is just one example.
It reminds me of a book version of the fantastic programmes by Lucy Worsley or Kate Williams which are as engrossing as they are engaging. In fact, I hope it can somehow be made into a tele series. We need it.
Maybe, because I had been reading my daughter's book, I assumed it would take a similar format; an extended look at one woman at a time. That’s not the case. The eight chapters are on broad themes such as education, women between the wars and a final one bringing things up to the present.
Once I had worked out that I wasn’t just reading a really long introduction, it was fine, possibly even better because it features many, many more bloody brilliant women - although it did require a certain level of concentration.
After reading this book, I felt the might of their collective power behind me and, as a result, I felt empowered.
I definitely think this should be required reading for high school students, of both sexes.
I will be getting a paper copy for my daughter's book shelf.
Even if history lessons have improved since my day, I think it will be essential reading when she’s older.

With thanks to Harper Collins UK/William Collins for the ARC (via NetGalley) in return for my honest review.

Bloody Brilliant Women: The Pioneers, Revolutionaries and Geniuses Your History Teacher Forgot to Mention by Cathy Newman is thoroughly researched and incredibly interesting.

This book is not just for feminists and is a useful tool for anyone who wants to learn more about some of the fantastic women our history books have largely overlooked.

I received a copy for review but due to some formatting issues on my kindle I had to only read certain bits but the bits I read were outstanding and I want to have a copy on my bookshelf in the near future.

The only women I can remember hearing about in my history lessons at school were definitely viewed in relation to their husbands, e.g Anne Boleyn. It came as no surprise to me when Cathy Newman said early on in her introduction that she had noticed one day that a book she was reading on the history of Britain had little mention of the role of women.

“The deeper I delved into the history of twentieth century Britain, the more it appeared that the shape and extent of female influence was far greater than generally acknowledged.”

She points out that we owe a lot more to historical women than you would think.

“Were it not for women, those significant features of modern Britain such as council housing, hospices and the humane laws relating to property, ownership, child custody and divorce might not exist in the same form.”

The book ends on an inspirational and uplifting note:

“I’m optimistic that today’s women are built for the long haul; that they have what it takes to smash through glass ceilings, be heard over massed ranks of haters and follow the footsteps of the women you have just been reading about.

So let’s raise a glass to strength, usefulness and not fading on the stalk – and the coming generations of bloody brilliant women.”

One of the major strengths of this book is the wide variety of interesting topics it covers via the women she features within.

A compulsive read.

Awesome. I can't wait to buy this in real life and for all of my friends at Christmas - gorgeous package and excellent collection of women.