Since March is Women’s History Month, I thought we’d kick it old school and remember some classic works by women authors who were somehow able to break through their male peers. Some of these I’ve read and some I have not, but all of these have stood the test of time.
I want to start with the amazing Louisa May Alcott because she is definitely my favorite of these. Little Women is one of those great reads, and when I first read it I absolutely identified with Jo, the character based on Alcott herself. Louisa was writing from New England and she and her sisters, who she based Little Women on, lived through the Civil War. Once you finish Little Women, be sure to follow up with Little Men and then Jo’s Boys. Little Women is still very much in the spotlight. Check out these modern titles related to Alcott’s work:
If I mentioned Alcott first, it’s only because she just beat out LM Montgomery, who wrote the beloved Anne of Green Gables. My mom had these books when I was growing up and I loved reading her copies of them. This was doubly impressive because my mom has never been much of a reader, so for her to love these really meant something to me. Anne is a red-headed orphan who is sent to live on Prince Edward Island with some elderly siblings. This was initially published in 1908, and there ended up being eight books in the series. These were favorites of my childhood, so I can’t recommend them enough.
Also writing around the turn of the twentieth century, Gene Stratton-Porter is an Indiana author, which is my home state. My great-grandma’s grandma bought her several of Stratton-Porters books, including Freckles and The Girl of Limberlost. I was never so happy to receive a gift as when she gave them to me. Especially because I hadn’t read any of them except Limberlost. These are great family stories about living in the wilderness that was Indiana. NPL has these in digital format, but if you want print, send us a request on ILL and we’ll see what we can do.
I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention Margaret Mitchell because Gone with the Wind has long been one of my favorite books. I know that it hasn’t aged well, but it has inspired lots of spinoffs and retellings from various points of view. Mitchell wrote GWTW while laid up with a broken leg and her story of Scarlett and Rhett and Mammy and Tara is lodged in our historical canon. Check out some of these other viewpoints of a prominent American story:
These are great North American writers. If we cross the pond and discuss their British sisters, I am less well-read, but maybe I’ll inspire myself to pick up some of these and get caught up.
The Bronte Sisters
I have read two of the three of these (sorry Anne). I always kind of think about them like a British version of Little Women - the family not the books. They are very different. Initially, they did have to publish under male names, but their own names have stood the test of time. Personally, I really enjoyed Jane Eyre. I’m not usually the biggest fan of Gothic novels, but this one was good. I know some folks just LOVE Wuthering Heights, (Sandra Bullock’s character reads it every Christmas in The Proposal), but it wasn’t my fave. Lots of movie versions of these.
Probably the most famous name on this list, I have to admit I’ve never officially read any original Jane Austen. (WHAT?!?!? THE HORROR! I know, right?) Now, I know the stories and have seen a couple of the movies, including the 85-hour long (feels like) Colin Firth miniseries of Pride and Prejudice, so don’t fully count me out. If you don’t want to read the originals, you can check out any of the multiple retellings:
George Elliott, or Mary Ann Evans, wrote during the 19th century. I haven’t read any of hers either, but Middlemarch has been on my TBR pile for a while. Silas Marner is also another of her big titles.
I have to admit the two reasons that I want to read George Sand are 1) because she was Chopin’s lover (he was just one of many) and 2) she wrote a book called Indiana. I have yet to accomplish this goal, but Sand, aka Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, was a popular French writer who hasn’t stayed quite as mainstream, at least in American. NPL has several of her titles, but unfortunately, they are all at Main. Until we reopen, feel free to request any from ILL.
Ok friends. To finish up this post, I would like to ask you a question first posed by our great Queen Bee - who run the world? Yep. Girls.
Happy Celebrating…
:) Amanda
