top of page
Search

Discover Empowering Female Narratives through these 31 Herstory Books

Over the last few months, I have received some really lovely emails from many of you, asking if I could please post a list of books I would recommend about women in history. So here it is.



This list is a selection of some of my favourite books. Some are about women in history and others, are written by women in history. In my humble opinion, I believe these works keep their relevance and importance despite their age and the passage of time.


As I have referred to, in most of my blogs and in my book The Hidden Camino, too much research is still avoiding discussing the problematic pre-conceived narratives with regards to women (and gender) in history.


Therefore, I am inviting you to join a lifelong adventure in exploring the narratives of our history – in all its colours. It’s not about reaching ‘the perfect place of absolute truth,’ as this fantasy simply doesn’t exist (please read The Hidden Camino for further explanation.)


Instead, I would like to encourage you to allow this magnificent journey to unfold, as you learn to see with new eyes, to wonder, and feel compelled to ask new questions. It’s both an individual and a collective journey towards a much deeper understanding of who we are, and where we come from.


Happy exploring.

xo Louise


The book list.

  1. Blixen, Karen. Out of Africa, 2011, Penguin Books

  2. Blixen, Karen (Isaak Dinesen.) Babette’s Feast and Other Stories, 2013, Penguin Books

  3. Borman, Tracy. Elizabeth’s Women, 2010, Vintage Publishing

  4. Carter, Jimmy. A Call to Action – Women, Religion, Violence, and Power, 2014, Simon & Schuster

  5. Cooney, Kara. When Women ruled the world, 2010, National Geographic Society

  6. Cooney, Kara. The Woman Who Would be King, 2015, Crown Publishing Group

  7. Cooper, Ellis. Band of Angels – The forgotten world of early Christian women, 2013, Atlantic Books

  8. Corelli, Marie. A Romance of Two Worlds, 2021, Edinburgh University Press

  9. Cross, Donna W., Pope Joan, 1996, Ballantine Books

  10. Diamant, Anita. The Red Tent, 2014, St. Martin’s Press

  11. Ellis, Peter B., Celtic Women, 1995, Constable and Company Ltd

  12. Foster, Judy: M. Derlet. Invisible Women of Prehistory, 2013, Spinifex

  13. Frieda, Leonie. Catherine de Medici – Renaissance Queen of France, 2006, HarperCollins

  14. Gero, Joan: Margaret Conkey. Engendering Archaeology – Women and Prehistory, 1991, Blackwell Publishers

  15. Helminski, Camille. Women of Sufism – A Hidden Treasure, 2003, Shambhala

  16. Herman, Eleanor. Mistress of the Vatican, 2008, Harper Perennial

  17. Jennings, Victoria. God as Mother, 2002, Inner Search Books

  18. Parker, K. L. Wise women of the Dreamtime, 1993, Inner Traditions International

  19. Parker, Rozsika: Pollock, G. Old Mistresses – Women, Art and Ideology, 2013, I.B.Tauris

  20. Lagerlof, Selma. The Wonderful Adventure of Nils Holgersson, 2018, Penguin Classics

  21. Lindgren, Astrid. Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter, 2001, Penguin Putnam

  22. Robin Cross: R. Miles. Warrior Women, 2011, Quercus

  23. Robson, Pamela. Wild Women, 2011, Murdoch Books

  24. Sommer, Louise. The Hidden Camino, 2014. Yellow Bird Press

  25. Spike, Michele. Tuscan Countess, 2004, Vendome

  26. Stein, Gertrude. Selective Writings of Gertrude Stein, 1990, Random House

  27. Stradling, J. Bad Girls & Wicked Women, 2008, Murdoch Books

  28. Swan, Laura, The Wisdom of the Beguines, 2014, Bluebridge

  29. Thompson, Kate. The Doorstep Society, 2019, Penguin Books

  30. Tracy, Jann. Marie Corelli: Shakespeare’s Companion, 2017, Walking Stork Publications

  31. Wallach, Janet. Desert Queen, 2004, Orion books


Did you enjoy this article? Why share it and inspire a friend.





bottom of page