A History of Women in 101 Objects: A Walk Through Female History

This is a neglected history. Not a sweeping, definitive, exhaustive history of the world but something quieter, more intimate and particular. A single journey, picked out in 101 objects, through the fascinating, too-often-overlooked, manifold histories of women. Open up this cabinet of curiosities and you'll find objects that have been highly esteemed – even, like the Bayeux tapestry, fought over by nations – and others that are humble and domestic. Some (like a 16th century glass dildo) are objects of female pleasure, some (a thumbscrew) of female subjugation. There are artefacts of women celebrated by history and of women unfairly forgotten by it; examples of female rebellion and of self-revelation; objects that are inspiring, curious or (like radium-laced chocolate) just fundamentally ill-conceived. Through the variety and nuance in all these 101 objects, Annabelle Hirsch has created a new history – teeming, unexpected, witty and always illuminating. This overdue corrective reveals what a healed femur says about civilisation, what men have to fear from hat pins, and it shows that the past has always been as complicated and fascinating as the women that peopled it. Full cast of Gillian Anderson Katy Hessel Anita Rani Jackie Kay Len Pennie Annabelle Hirsch Shirley Manson Rebecca Solnit Sandi Toksvig Marina Hyde Naomi Shimada Harriet Walter Celia Imrie Kate Manne Margaret Atwood Janina Ramirez Doon Mackichan Helen Mirren Elif Shafak Kate Mosse Miriam Margolyes Val McDermid Caitlin Moran Dolly Alderton Olivia Colman Sasha Lane Adjoa Andoh Elizabeth Acevedo Sue Perkins Ece Temelkuran Mary Ann Sieghart Alison Steadman Minnie Driver Rebecca Hall Krista Tippett Patience Agbabi Michelle Newell Jeanette Winterson Geraldine James Sinead Cusack Tiya Miles Crystal Clarke Louise Brealey Leila Slimani Helena Kennedy Samin Nosrat Anna Holmes Michelle Gomez India Knight Natascha McElhone Lauren Elkin Kate Winslet Helena Bonham Carter Sylvia Whitman Noma Dumezweni Meera Syal Carey Mulligan Denise Gough Jacqueline Wilson Siri Hustvedt Gaby Wood Sophie Hunter Lisa Kainde Diaz Annabel Mullion Sharleen Spiteri Jennifer Clement Julia Gillard Jude Kelly Kerry Fox Ruthie Rogers Maggie Smith Hanna Schygulla Kübra Gümüsay Erica Wagner Sandra Huller Jodie Whittaker Nicola Sturgeon Juliet Stevenson Sally Phillips Angelica Houston Lisa Dwan Ruth Ozeki Joanna Lumley Cynthia Erivo Eleanor Updegraff Sinéad Gleeson Salena Godden Lili Taylor Mariella Frostrup Katie Kitamura Saffron Hocking Tahmima Anam Shirin Neshat Martha Wainwright Christiane Amanpour