10 Books Celebrating Influential Women in History

The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd
With alternating narratives by two extraordinary female characters, Sue Monk Kidd’s The Invention of Wings tells the incredible story of real-life abolitionist pioneer Sarah Grimke and urban slave Hetty “Handful” Grimke in early 19th-century Charleston. On her 11th birthday, Sarah is given ownership of 10-year-old Hetty, and the two go on to influence each other and the destiny of women’s and African-American rights over the next 35 years. In real life, Hetty died of an “unspecified disease” after being severely beaten as punishment for Sarah teaching her how to read. But Kidd knew Hetty’s voice was imperative to telling this powerful story.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, by Therese Anne Fowler
Zelda Fitzgerald was so much more than the beautiful, outlandish wife of famed This Side of Paradise and The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald. And Therese Anne Fowler’s impeccably researched novel brings her to life, starting with her whirlwind courtship with young army lieutenant Scott when she was just 17 in Montgomery, Ala. Despite her parents’ disapproval, Zelda falls for Scott, and what follows is an incredibly readable tale of the couple’s fame at the dawn of the Jazz Age; their days galavanting around New York City, Paris, and more; the alcoholism and infidelity that plague their marriage; and the talented and often scandalous Zelda’s struggles with mental illness.

Circling the Sun, by Paula McLain
From the author of The Paris Wife comes another riveting read for historical fiction lovers. Paula McLain has crafted a compelling story about real-life female aviator and author Beryl Markham in 1920s colonial Kenya. Following an unconventional upbringing by her father and the native tribe who share his estate, the bold and fearless Beryl goes on to become a horse trainer—during a time when there were no female horse trainers—and later the first professional female pilot and a record-setting flyer. Beryl also finds herself tangled in a love triangle with hunter Denys Finch Hatton and writer Karen Blixen in this rich and passionate tale.

Jubilee, by Margaret Walker
Margaret Walker’s powerful novel set in the South during the American Civil War tells the true story of Vyry Brown, a biracial slave who was the daughter of a white plantation owner and a black enslaved woman. Vyry’s tale is based on the life of Margaret Duggans Ware Brown, the author’s great-grandmother. Walker is able to seamlessly blend together her family’s oral history she heard from her grandmother along with extensive research to offer a deeply moving and realistic portrayal of what life was like for slaves in the deep South—their struggles and desires—from their own perspective.

Saint Mazie, by Jami Attenberg
Bringing not only Mazie Phillips Gordon to life but also the sights and sounds of Jazz Age New York City, Jami Attenberg’s Saint Mazie tells the story of a movie ticket seller, an ordinary woman who did some extraordinary things. Witnessing the hungry, addicted, and injured homeless people roaming the Bowery, Mazie selflessly helped them the best she could, giving them money and opening the doors of The Venice theater to those in need. With details of her life imagined through fictional diary entries and account from those who knew her and only knew her through her journal, Attenberg’s witty book allows the spirit of Mazie to live on.

The Dream Lover, by Elizabeth Berg
Nineteenth-century French novelist George Sand was an eccentric and passionate woman who embraced an unconventional lifestyle in the pursuit of her dream of becoming a writer. In Elizabeth Berg’s richly captivating novel, readers are initially introduced to Sand as Aurore Dupin, a woman in the process of leaving a loveless marriage to start a new life in Paris. She changes her name, defies the restrictions on women in society, and takes on a who’s who of lovers and friends including Frédéric Chopin, Gustave Flaubert, Franz Liszt, Eugène Delacroix, Victor Hugo, Marie Dorval, and Alfred de Musset. Exploring themes of sexuality, gender, and art, The Dream Lover is a must-read for fans of historical fiction.

Vanessa and Her Sister, by Priya Parmar
History remembers writer Virginia Woolf much more so than her sister, painter Vanessa Bell. But Priya Parmar’s elegant and dazzling novel, set in early 20th-century London, brings Vanessa out of her sister’s shadow to show just how truly gifted and multidimensional Vanessa was as well as the profound influence she had on Virginia. The story is told through Vanessa’s invented journal entries and correspondence and follows the siblings as they buck convention and forge their own path toward artistic success. But when Vanessa unexpectedly falls in love, Virginia careens into madness, having been ever-dependent on her sister as a steadying force in her life.

Hild, by Nicola Griffith
For fans of A Game of Thrones and exquisitely written historical fiction, Nicola Griffith’s Hild sheds some light on the Dark Ages and one of its most pivotal women, Saint Hilda of Whitby. The well-researched tome set in seventh-century Britain introduces readers to Hild as a curious child with a plotting and ambitious uncle set on becoming overking of Angles. Hild finds a place at his side as the king’s seer, an indispensable role that leads to her being feared by many as she truly seems to see the future. Griffith manages to bring the harsh yet beautiful realities of Hild’s experiences to life in this impeccable read.

Nefertiti, by Michelle Moran
Michelle Moran transports readers to ancient Egypt in her novel about two influential royal women in history, Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet. Strong-willed Nefertiti is set to marry an unstable pharaoh named Amunhotep. Following her marriage, Nefertiti is beloved by the people of Thebes, but, unbeknownst to her, powerful priests are plotting against her heretical husband. The only person willing to brave the inevitable ramifications and tell Nefertiti of the plot is her younger sister. While Nefertiti longs for power, her sister only wishes for a quiet life and to follow the her heart. Moran manages to bring them both to life in vivid detail on the page.

The Black Rose, by Tananarive Due
Madam C.J. Walker was born Sarah Breedlove, the daughter of slaves on a Louisiana plantation in 1867; she went on to become America’s first black female millionaire. After being orphaned at age 7, married at 14, and widowed with a young child at 20, she was not content to maintain her lot in life. She became an inventive entrepreneur, creating hair and beauty products like a potion that became Wonderful Hair Grower and a hot comb that allowed black women to straighten their hair. Walker rose from poverty to become the head of a hugely successful company and a philanthropist for African American and women’s causes. The Black Rose, started by author Alex Haley before his death in 1992 and completed by writer Tananarive Due, is the remarkable fictionalized account of her riveting life.
What fiction would you recommend about influential women in history?