“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
—Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, 1818
Historically, women (and people of color) have been sorely underrepresented on many reading lists. To help change that, we're highlighting women authors who more than deserve your attention.
Discover classic women authors who flew under the radar with male pen names, and re-discover those who broke the mold and dominated their genres (hello, Agatha Christie!) or invented new ones (see: the history of Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein).
You can also browse books by Black women, by early Irish female writers, or even books by royal women. For more modern and global women’s fiction, we suggest books that pass the Bechdel test, books by Elena Ferrante, and even books by women crime writers. Regardless of what you’re looking for, all of the recommendations below will add some much-needed feminine perspective to your reading list.
Get to know the works of a British literary icon.
By Grace Felder
A woman with a love for the written word, and a dedication to the truth.
"Understanding her was crucial to reigniting my feminist identity; finding her at all was a miracle."
You won’t be able to stop talking about this novel.
The adaptation hits Netflix on December 31.
The story behind her work that went unpublished for almost six decades.
Her most powerful works remind us that our actions affect the world.
By Nicole Klett
These 10 accomplished women led countries, wrote poetry, chronicled history, and made their own.
An author's search for an accurate account of the Trail of Tears.
She's even more interesting than you thought.
Meet the woman who inspired Virginia Woolf's most fanciful novel.
The award was controversial—but not for the reasons you might think.
Five authors carry on the legacy of Carson's five iconic books.
“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”―Virginia Woolf
By Nicole Klett
From amateur sleuths to small-town sheriffs, these fierce females are on the case.
The late author was among the greatest writers of her generation in any genre.
These thrilling reads left lasting impressions.
By Allison Wild