March is Women’s History month, and as someone with degrees in Literature and History, I like to expand my historical understanding via the pages of books. While historical fiction is in and of itself a favorite genre, I am also drawn to biographical novels. Over the years I have read many, and discovered authors with phenomenal abilities to weave historical fact with storytelling.
Many of the novels mentioned below I have read and enjoyed, but several are on my TBR. I will indicate those with an * after the title. There is a wide range of historical moments represented, as well as subject matter {eg: women in science}, so hopefully there’s something for everyone.
American History:
Miscellaneous Others:
- The Lioness of Boston*
- The Diamond of London*
- Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl
- Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen
- Josephine Baker’s Last Dance*
- Carnegie’s Maid
- The Forest Lover
- Clara and Mr Tiffany*
- When the Men were Gone
- The Wright Sister*
- Katherine, the Wright Sister*
- A Most English Princess*
- The Girl in White Gloves*
There are so many more biographical novels about amazing women out there, this is just a taste of what is available.
Have you read any of these?
Have you read one not listed that I should definitely add to my TBR?
What comes to mind for me is The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani. It’s about a 17th century rug creator in Isfahan.
I will never inscribe my name in a carpet like the masters in the royal rug workshop who are honored for their great skill. I will never learn to knot a man’s eye so precisely it looks real, nor design rugs with layers of patterns so intricate that they could confound the greatest of mathematicians. But I have devised designs of my own, which people will cherish for years to come. When they sit on one of my carpets, their hips touching the earth, their back elongated, and the crown of their head lifted toward the sky, they will be soothed, refreshed, transformed. My heart will touch theirs and we will be as one, even after I am dust, even though they will never know my name.
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Marie Benedict can by kind of hit or miss for me (carnegie’s maid was not my favorite, but I have enjoyed some of her other things), but I do really appreciate how she takes a historical woman and dives into her life
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