19th Century Female Explorers

In the 19th century, a few adventurous women defied societal norms and explored the world, facing lice infestations, climbing mountains in corsets, and rascally guides. Caroline Roope's book recounts the stories of 22 extraordinary ladies who ventured beyond their homes, showcasing their grit, courage, and humor.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

As any historian will attest, a nineteenth-century woman's place was very much at home. Or was it? For a lucky (and plucky) few, who had a little determination, and the ability to withstand lice infestations, climbing mountains in corsets, rascally guides, and occasional certain death - as well as the raised eyebrows of the society they left behind - then the world really was their oyster.

In this lively re-telling of twenty-two extraordinary ladies who did just that, Caroline Roope invites you to journey to the further corners of the earth along with them. From humble missionary Annie Royle Taylor, who knew God would keep her safe, to the haughty aristocrat, Lady Hester Stanhope, who defied convention and dressed as a Turkish man, including pistol, knife, and turban, their collective voices still resonate hundreds of years later. Drawing on their original accounts and archival sources, this expertly researched book brings to light a wealth of stories that are full of grit (sometimes literally), courage, and just enough humor to wish we'd been there with them on their adventures on the other side of the horizon.

So, pack a suitcase, along with a good thick skirt a la Mary Kingsley, and prepare to go beyond the garden gate. You'll never look at the nineteenth century in the same way again.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399006866