Celebrating 8 Women In History & Historical Fiction

Happy International Women’s Day! I share with you the eight (8) novels of History and the Historical Fiction Genre, which speaks on the role of women in contributing to their home community and/or the wider community.
1. Eva Gore Booth, The Other Sister: The Remarkable Sybling of Constance Markievicz by llpix.com (Illustrator), Cindy Davi
A short explanation of the role of women in the Easter Rising in Ireland. Whilst Constance physical presence is known concerning the events of the Easter Rising in Ireland perhaps little is spoken of her other sister Eva whose contribution is still similar. Eva is noted as part of the movement for women suffrage in Ireland as well as heretical recording of historical events. Her encouragement to not only her sister but fighting men is recommendable. These pages also gives more insight into the Land Acts of 1881, negative and positive of the role of land owners.

2. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Ann Jacobs
Another confirmation of the cruelties of slavery and the nonchalant attitude of most Northerners to such inhumane treatment. This memoir also highlights few good souls of the North who risked their reputation and family to help out fugitive enslaved. This account offers an insight into the life of a coloured enslaved whose family were thrust mainly into house slavery. It is extremely moving and conjures mind boggling questions.

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She Wrote On Clay by Shirley Graetz [A Book Review]

At first, the novel felt strange but as I continued reading, I realized that because the storyline was new to me I felt hesitant. I cannot remember ever reading about gagû or naditu before. At the end, I appreciate the author’s effort to keep reader’s interest in that aspect of the Ancient East. Mission accomplished because I am very much inspired to read more on naditu. In addition, the information provided at the end of the novel connects the story to the History of Ancient East to law writing and gagû.  Maybe you should read the author’s notes first if you feel that Ancient East historical fiction will suck you in and lost you. However, you do not have to, if you feel it may act like a spoiler for the story. Although, I had a problem remembering the names of certain characters (because they were in an unfamiliar language), the events within the plot flowed. I was not confused about the life of a naditu because the author did a good job in explaining.

Furthermore, I like the character development in Iltani (lead woman), her journey becoming a naditu reads like a young woman entering a world independent of marriage. It reads like the little I know about women and marriage in that time period. I love the budding friendship that Iltani developed and that she gets challenges in her quest to succeed. I love how the author introduces the romance between Iltani and Marduk-musallim; it was a gentle budding love one suiting a woman so involved in the gagû. The ending of the story left some unanswered questions and it hints at a second novel.