皇家华人

On this International Women鈥檚 Day our Library staff share with you the books written by, for and about women which have inspired, excited and shaped them. We hope you find this list inspiring.

by Caroline Criado Perez (Print book)

鈥淭his is a fascinating book, which brings together a range of case studies, stories and new research from across the world to illustrate how the design of everything including government policy, medical research, technology, workplaces, urban design and the media is based on biased data that excludes women.鈥�
Sarah Aitchison, Head of Special Collections

by George Sand (Ebook)

鈥淕eorge Sand was one of the first writer whose books I actually enjoyed reading at school. Reading 听is also recommended. She had a very eventful life and met so many incredible artists (Liszt, Flaubert, Balzac, Chopin, de Musset...)鈥�
Magali Perrey, Services Operations Supervisor

by Alison Light (Print)

鈥淢any women of my Mother's older sisters' generation left South Wales to enter into domestic service in England so I am interested in any books which shed a light on their experiences, and this one is particularly fascinating.鈥澨�听 听
Deborah Furness, Head of Help Services

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

鈥淚t made me think a lot about what it is to be a woman, in different forms and journeys, how we can learn from, and support each other, and be stronger when we bring together our differences as strengths. It is written through the voices of black or mixed race characters, which makes a white person have to think that little bit more. It is also beautifully written.鈥�
Jessica Womack, IOE Archivist

by Robin Stevens (Print)

鈥淎 children's mystery novel, this follows two schoolgirls in 1930s England solving their first murder and is the first book in the 'Murder Most Unladylike' series. Not only does it have two spectacular female leads, but the book is an excellent start to a series that normalises the diversity of human experiences, such as those around race, disability, and LBGTQ+.鈥�
Julie Cheung-Inhin, Library Assistant and Evening Supervisor Bartlett Library

by Elena Ferrante (Print)

鈥淭his is the first of the four 'Neopolitan' novels. Together these books explore female friendship, education, love, grief and everything in between against the backdrop of late twentieth century Italy.鈥澨�听 听
Sarah Burn, Subject Liaison Librarian for English and Philosophy

(Available at Queen Square)

鈥溁始一�人 including Margaret Drabble & Claire Tomalin write about six pioneering women who attended Newnham College in its early years, including Dr Blandy, first female registrar at National Hospital, Queen Square.鈥�
Sarah Lawson, Head of Queen Square Library

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Print)

鈥淩eally eye-opening story about immigration and being a black woman in both Nigeria and the US.鈥澨�听 听听听 听
Lucy Deering, Information Assistant

by Lauren Arrington (Ebook)

鈥淐ountess Markiewicz was the first woman elected to the House of Commons, although she didn't take her seat as an abstentionist Sinn Fein MP. A UCL alumna (Slade, 1893-1897) she played a famous role in revolutionary Ireland.鈥�
Ed Lyon, Library Assistant

by Paula Bartley (Ebook)

"I enjoyed reading this biography.
鈥楻ed Ellen鈥� stood at 4 feet, 10 inches. Yet, she was a giant!
A fighter for women鈥檚 suffrage; a working-class trade unionist with a university education; a founder of the Communist Party; Labour MP, leader of the Jarrow march; an anti-fascist who smuggled herself into Nazi Germany; government minister during World War II who, despite chronic asthma, toured the country making sure that air raid shelter provision was adequate. She co-authored the 1945 Labour manifesto and became the first female Minister of Education.
An admirer, the author doesn鈥檛 shy away from examining contradictions. Wilkinson moved from being an advocate of revolution to being a believer in parliamentary change. Bartley argues, however, that her principles remained intact.鈥澨�听 听
Kit Snape, Library Assistant听

by Charlotte Bront毛 (Print)

"Written by Charlotte Bront毛 who had to write under a male pseudonym, due to women writers were not acceptable in society. Jane Eyre is a role model as she endures bullying, discrimination by her peers, and through her courage and determination fights to marry a man with disabilities. A book which sends a strong message even today鈥檚 women."
Carolyne Megan, Collections Assistant

by Jean Rhys (Print)

鈥淭he mesmerising and haunting story of Antoinette Cosway, an important character in Jane Eyre. This novel begins in her youth in Jamaica until she meets a certain Mr Rochester. One of my favourite books ever. A true classic.鈥�

by Jan Morris (Print)

鈥淭his book was published in the seventies and tells the powerful and personal story of Jan Morris鈥檚 transition. The Times named it one of the 鈥�100 Key Books of Our Time鈥� and I agree.鈥�

by Octavia E. Butler (Print)

鈥淪et in 2020s when society has collapsed鈥� okay I鈥檓 listening. I wasn鈥檛 sure what to expect when I was first recommended this book via the stairs to the Main Library, but this is absolutely brilliant. Must read.鈥�

by Angela Saini (Print)

鈥淪aini examines scientific research into gender difference and how this leads to institutional inequalities.鈥�

by Gayle Greene

鈥淚 haven't read it yet but I plan to. It promises to be a fascinating and controversial tale. It's available to us all online too!鈥�

edited by Samantha J Rayner and Kim Wilkins (Ebook)

鈥淚t's new and awesome (PLUS open access!)鈥澨�听 听

Trans: a memoir by Juliet Jacques

鈥淚 really enjoyed this book and leant a lot. I love Juliet's writing.鈥�

by Dorothy L. Sayers (Print)

鈥淪ayers was one of the 鈥楺ueens of Crime鈥� who wrote detective novels during Britain鈥檚 inter-war years. Herself an Oxford graduate with an unconventional personal life, in 鈥楪audy Night鈥� Sayers鈥� protagonist investigates a mystery at a women鈥檚 college while also trying to decide between academia and a career or love and marriage in a time when few women could have both.鈥�

by Mary Wollstonecraft (Ebook)

"An important early proto-feminist work. Broadly speaking, it argues for the reform of women's education in order to reinforce equality between the sexes.
We have copies of the issue published in 1792 in our Special Collections (REF COLLECTION K 听 ROTTON 8.d.29), IOE Library 听(Hist. Ed. Raf WOL ) et al."听听 听

, by Caitlin Moran

鈥淚 first came across this book when I heard Moran read from it at a Bookslam event, which inspired me to buy myself a copy. In How to be a Woman, Moran tackles a broad range of issues, with each chapter taking a different subject, first grounding it in her own experience and then looking at it from a broader, social perspective. It's very funny but also insightful, thought-provoking and (I think) essential reading for any gender.鈥�

by Sarah Pomeroy (Ebook)

鈥淭his scholarly book was a game changer in the field on an academic level and more widely in public discourse. It was first published in 1975 and although later research has developed some of the ideas, it鈥檚 still a good place to start. I first read it many moons ago on a rainy afternoon in the Main Library.鈥�

by Toni Morrison (Ebook)

鈥淚 love all of Toni Morrison鈥檚 work. She has a very poetic style. Her descriptions are unique and universal. I think Beloved or are good places to start.鈥�

UCL Library Services Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Library Services are dedicated to supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusions for our users and staff. We have produced a Library Equality, Diversity and Inclusion implementation plan, enhanced CPD opportunities for staff, and developed a set of race equality pledges for the department.
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