Unwed & Unbothered: The Defiant Lives of Single Women Throughout History

Illustrator Duval debuts with an eye-opening compendium of passionate and powerful women throughout history who chose a life unencumbered by husbands or children. Her brief biographies are organized around themes, such as a section on defying traditional gender norms in the ancient world that includes, among others, Lady Triêu (c. 225–248), a warrior maiden who became a national symbol in Vietnam, and Hypatia (c. 350–415), a Greek mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who broke significant gender norms by teaching in public. A section on financial independence highlights women who found ways to make money in periods when women were barred from most kinds of work, among them Rosalba Carriera (c. 1675–1757), a Venetian pastel portraitist, and Annie Smith Peck (1850–1935), a skillful mountaineer who turned her daring and notoriety into a moneymaking profession as a public lecturer and writer of travel guides. The section labeled “Prioritizing Pursuits Other Than Marriage” contains such famous names as Jane Austen, Florence Nightingale, and Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American Hollywood star. Each profile provides insight into these women’s historic periods while also inspiring admiration for their gumption. It’s a potent collection of role models for women and girls. (Sept.)