There is nothing like a good book to draw inspiration
from. While works of fiction do their job well, there’s a certain
kind of charm that biographies have that you cannot find anywhere
else. And while it’s called ‘history,’ one cannot deny that women
have always helped in shaping the story of the world and society we
live in.
Perhaps words written on paper will never equal the
contributions these women have birthed, but these biographies at
least make an attempt to make sure they are recognized and never
forgotten.
For starters, here are nine biographies of women you
should read.
Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo, Hayden Herrera,
2002
Celebrated by readers and critics from different parts
of the world, Hayden Herrera’s portrayal of the tragic life of the
renowned Mexican painter will not disappoint. Get to know the story
behind the self-portraits we usually know Frida Kahlo from – from
her highly creative and original art style to an accident that left
her broken, crippled, and unable to bear children, to her
impassioned marriage with the artist Diego Rivera.
With this book, you will understand how deeply
engrossed Kahlo was in Mexican culture, and in return, how she
became a prominent figure not only in Mexico’s history and art
history but the world’s.
Bad Girls Go Everywhere: The Life of Helen Gurley Brown, the Woman
Behind Cosmopolitan Magazine, Jennifer Scanlon,
2010
If you are wondering whether or not a life of extreme
discipline and persistence is possible, let the Cosmopolitan
magazine’s international editor show you how it’s done. See for
yourself how Helen Gurley Brown, only a secretary at the beginning
of her career, can climb her way to being the 32-year editor of one
of the most known women’s magazines.
Eye on the Struggle: Ethel Payne, the First Lady of the Black
Press, James McGrath Morris, 2015
Sometimes, a massive, significant contribution does not
ascertain world recognition. Such is the case of Ethel Payne, a
journalist who, as an “instrument of change”, fought for civil
rights and spoke against the injustices in the U.S. It was with
Morris’s biography of her that she was finally placed in the
limelight that she so deserves.
Starting as a Chicago
Defender’s Washington correspondent, be inspired by how she
brought about change that aided the making of our modern society as
she catered to black readers in the country and became the first
woman ever to work as a commentator on national networks in radio
and television.
Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), Stacy Schiff, 2000
You have probably heard of and even read at least one
of the works of the illustrious author Vladimir Nabokov. But what
you should also definitely know about is his loving wife, Vera. In
this book, you will learn about the life of the woman to whom
Nabokov’s works were dedicated, and without her, the world would
not have even known his name.
If you are a fan of deeply intelligent heroines, this
Pulitzer Prize for biography (2005) is perfect for you. Mrs.
Nabokov resonates with the most brilliant heroines in most
important novels in history. Witness for yourself the 52-year story
of romance and friendship of Vera and Vladimir in this
biography.
Truly Wilde: The Unsettling Story Of Dolly Wilde, Oscar’s Unusual
Niece, Joan Schenkar, 2001
We keep on hearing the words “young, wild, and free”
these days, but it was Dolly Wilde, the renowned author Oscar
Wilde’s niece, that truly encapsulated this phrase. Dolly was much
like her uncle; she was witty and alluring, and she was said to be
born a writer, even thought of as a prodigy.
But how she mirrors the author of The
Picture of Dorian Gray does not end there; sadly, they
also had the vices and the life of excess in common, until these
very things led to their ruin and impending deaths. Still, her life
is truly worth knowing about, especially in Schenker’s words which
perfectly captures the wild, beautiful madness that is Dolly
Wilde.
Front
Row: Anna Wintour: What Lies Beneath the Chic Exterior of Vogue’s
Editor in Chief, Jerry Oppenheimer, 2006
Fashion lovers most probably encountered Anna Wintour
somehow, somewhere – in a magazine, in the television, etc. But
like many stars, there is more to her than her signature hair,
sunglasses, and fur.
Jerry Oppenheimer does investigative research on her
life so that we may hear from the accounts of her many colleagues
the international diva’s climb
to success and how she became one of the
most famous and influential icons in the fashion industry. Let Anna
Wintour’s life be a proof to you that one need not be nice and
lovely to get to the top.
Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon — and the
Journey of a Generation, Sheila Weller, 2009
Baby boomers will not find it difficult to get addicted
and leaf through the pages of this book, even in one sitting. But
it is the combination of Sheila Weller’s exhaustive journalism,
humor, and wit that makes it interesting even to the younger
audiences. In just over 500 pages, Weller can tell us of the
diverse lives led by the three of the greatest women icons in the
60’s music industry – Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly
Simon.
The way their stories are written pay the right homage
to the music icons as they are truly specific and free from
cliches. It is almost like being transported to the magical, mythic
decade, and in the case of the boomers, reliving it, this time in
the perspective of the stars of their time.
Flappers: Six Women of a Dangerous Generation, Judith
Mackrell, 2014
The times were quite different a century ago. For one,
it was more difficult for women; as they were not even seen as
equals, what more when it comes to making a name for themselves?
However, these 6 women were able to, against all odds, to make
their mark in the world and to shape and define not only Jazz music
and art but their generation and era.
If you are wondering how they made in a prejudiced,
male-dominated world, let the stories of Josephine Baker, Tallulah
Bankhead, Diana Cooper, Nancy Cunard, Zelda Fitzgerald, and Tamara
de Lempicka show you how it’s done.
Manchu Princess, Japanese Spy: The Story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the
Cross-Dressing Spy Who Commanded Her Own Army (Asia Perspectives:
History, Society, and Culture), Phyllis Birnbaum,
2015
If asked who is their favourite Disney princess, many
women would cite Mulan for her strong attitude and for being
different from the other princesses – unlike the others who waited
for their “knight in shining armor,” Mulan was her knight in
shining armor. While Mulan is based on a Chinese figure in the 6th
century, little is known about her.
But there is someone who is very much like her, and we
have the chance to get to know her up close and personal with
Birnbaum’s written biography. See for yourself how Aisin Gioro
Xianyu was able to shock the patriarchal Japan as she, like Joan of
Arc, cross-dresses and even serves as a commander.
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