The way we remember the past today remains dishearteningly patriarchal: a place where women have always been oppressed by men,from ancient times to the present day.
A History of Women in 101 Objects tells a new story of female history,revealing the evolution of the role women have played in society through the quiet power of their everyday items. Much of what we've read about history focuses on the men in power: women's stories are too often hidden or considered unremarkable. But in this collection,Annabelle Hirsch curates a compendium of women and their things,uncovering the thoughts and feelings at the heart of women's daily lives,to offer an intimate and lively alternative history. The objects date from prehistory to today and are assembled chronologically to show the evolution of how women were perceived by others,how they perceived themselves,how they fought for freedom. For example,what do handprints on early cave paintings tell us about the role of women in hunting What does a mobile phone have to do with femicides Or Kim Kardashian's diamond ring with Elena Ferrante
Wide-ranging,subversive,witty and superbly researched,this is a book that upends all our assumptions about,and presentations of,the past.
Publisher: Canongate BooksISBN: 9781805300878Number of pages: 416Weight: 660 gDimensions: 224 x 153 x 36 mmEdition: Main
MEDIA REVIEWS
'Whimsical,fun and witty. Annabelle Hirsch's book is a like a treasure hunt through history,culture,politics,fashion and art - from cave paintings and bikinis to menstruation cups and Madame Pompadour's sealing stamp'- Andrea Wulf
'Such a satisfying and educational insight into the minds and activities of our united ancestors and a reminder,lest we forget,that women are and have always been,whether quietly or vociferously,on the periphery or centre stage,the engine,the glue,the inspiration behind it all'- Gillian Anderson
'I adored this book! Our history and our power are not just ideas,but play out in the ways we interact with the physical world. Hirsch's intimate observational gifts turn that world into a rousing,living record of all that we have wrestled with'- Olivia Colman
'A fantastic cabinet of curiosities that rethinks the role of women in history. Educational,funny - a joy!'- Leila Slimani
'I love this book... a new feminist history of the world... stirring,provocative and carefully researched'- Lauren Elkin
'An excellent reminder that women have always been there. They may be written out of texts,but the objects they leave behind reveal them in all their complexity. Women that fought,women that worked,women that wielded power and carried agency. Through these 101 objects you can touch the hands of ancestors and understand the worlds they inhabited'- Dr Janina Ramirez
'I loved every chapter of this compelling,enlightening and inspiring book. Annabelle Hirsch writes with such warmth,humour and generosity. This book illuminates our past so we can envision a bolder and brighter present'- Salena Godden
'From cave painting to the newest frontiers of technology,women have made so many aspects of the world we live in whilst also witnessing their presence in the halls of history being cast into shadow or erased. Annabelle Hirsh grabs back the spotlight and through an astonishing,eclectic array of objects she places women's achievements centre stage. Splendid and inspiring'- Jude Kelly
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