In March, We Honor Women's History. And Historical Fiction Rises to The Task.
Historical fiction has long entertained and explored times past with details that escape mainstream novels. Now the stories of women, once marginalized or totally overlooked, are immensely popular with readers because there are so many untold narratives to inspire and educate us.
The Significance of Women's Perspectives
If history is written by the conquerers, and thus told by men, there are many stories never told. Women's stories. The power of historical fiction lies in storytelling's ability to sweep a reader up into new perspectives in imagined worlds, and women authors are brilliantly doing just that.
It's generally accepted that women have long relegated to the background in history. And men have long dominated the literary and publishing worlds. Women authors are breaking through with historical fiction, because when their voices come forward, readers devour their books — they resonate with an authenticity and strength they recognize in themselves.
Women writers are overlooked by educators and critics. It's time to get proactive. —Rachel Thompson in Mashable
Authors like Hilary Mantel, a historical fiction trailblazer, shed light on challenges faced by women in Tudor England — from their struggles with societal expectations to family obligations — in her 2009 hit novel, Wolf Hall. In her 1937 classic of the Harlem Renaissance, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston receives new recognition today with her journey of love and self-discovery — a quest for independence we continue to relate to. Readers are seeing that history's not just a series of dates and events about men, told by men. It's a collection of human experiences shaped by, and led by, women as well.
In celebrating Women's History Month, we're honoring the importance of women's stories in historical fiction. Readers can reflect on the legacy of women in March by reading authors who have contributed to the dialogue about gender roles throughout history. This month is a powerful reminder these narratives are not just entertaining, but crucial in shaping perceptions of gender today and in the future.
Women in historical fiction frequently break the molds set by societal standards. Writers craft stories that muddy traditional gender roles, showcasing women as warriors, leaders, inventors, and more. Women are not merely love interests or background figures but the heroes of their stories, fulfilling their ambitions and desires, strong, determined, and demonstrating their own agency.
Celebrating Unsung Heroines with Historical Fiction
Many historical figures have faded from collective memory, if they were ever known at all. But the resurgence of their stories in historical fiction shines a light on their contributions. The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict tells the story of Mileva Marić, Albert Einstein's first wife, and her significant role in physics.
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly unveils the stories of African-American women mathematicians at NASA who played a crucial role during the Space Race. Their overlooked contributions are testament to the impact women have made in fields traditionally dominated by men. By highlighting these lesser-known heroines, authors challenge readers to look for even more women shaping history.
I found my history classes in school to be mind-numbingly dull: just memorization of dates and battles, kings and presidents. Conspicuously missing from the pages of my textbooks were women. —Kate Manning in Electric Lit
In Jodi Piccoult's latest bestseller, By Any Other Name, the real author of Shakespeare’s plays is imagined as a woman who is forced to hide behind another name for her byline. Piccoult builds on the extensive research of female scholars in a plausible storyline that gives readers an understanding of how one talented woman might conquer the male-only theatre world.
Historical fiction shines in women's fiction, too, with reimagined histories like Virginia Woolf's Orlando. This trend found its stride in The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, who imagined the life of on Anne Boleyn's overlooked sister, Mary. Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet explored the life of a woman relegated to a footnote in the Bard’s history, his wife, Agnes.
Realistic imaginings of women unnoted for cures, great literature, or inventions but are nonetheless heroic in their everyday lives are informative. In my post, How to Build a Library, nine Houston women set out to fund their city's first public library. Here are the women advocating for change, advancing progress for women, standing behind the scenes but providing that all-important structure to the lives of loved ones and strangers alike. In The Bravest Soldiers, author Elaine Aucoin Schroller portrays the oft-anonymous women on the frontlines at home in Australia during World War II. Their emotional strength and sacrifices rank as bravery, too, in scenarios little-acknowledged and oft-repeated in wars.
The Emotional Untold Stories of Strong Women
The essence of historical fiction often revolves around conflict, resilience, and resolution. Readers crave strong, well-developed female characters facing unique challenges. Their emotional journeys—filled with struggle, love, loss, and triumph—allow readers to connect deeply with their struggles and accomplishments.
In 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft takes London by storm when she pens A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Yet today she's known by so few that author N.J. Mastro brought her to life in Solitary Walker, historical bio-fiction that quickly becomes a page-turner.
Biographical historical fiction features women who are leaders in women's movements and illuminate the fierce fight for rights and equality that's endured for centuries. We're inspired by dogged female characters who persevere against the odds. Novels about the women's suffrage movement, like the three women profiled in The Women's March by Jennifer Chiaverini, show us how heroic action reshapes millions of women's lives. By integrating past societal norm and laws with cultural shifts into our novels, historical authors like Mastro and Chiaverini help readers grasp the untold history of women willing to break the mold. In Women's History Month, we're celebrating their resilience and strength.
Exploring women's roles unveils rich narratives still waiting to be uncovered in historical fiction. For authors, the subjects are infinite. As tales of strong women emerge from the shadows, readers gain a deeper understanding of the past and the unacknowledged contributions of women.
I was hungry for a woman's voice, for a story that resembled my own life, for pages that read like the inside of my mind. —Rachel Thompson in Mashable
Historical fiction serves not just as a window into the past, but as a mirror reflecting the current struggles and triumphs of women everywhere. By embracing these untold stories, we honor the legacies of those who came before us and empower future generations to redefine their narratives. Long after Women's History Month ends, historical fiction will continue to inspire, educate, and celebrate the indomitable spirit of women, and enrich our collective understanding of womanhood and history.
What are you reading this month? My historical novel, Unspoken, focuses on the lives of strong, resilient, heroic women facing unimaginable challenges (with some of our lauded women icons making appearances as mentors). Unspoken releases in July, and you can learn more when you attend my July 3 Book Club Launch for Unspoken on Zoom. Until then, you need look no further than author Janis Daly Robinson's list of #31TitlesWomeninHistory to find inspiring historical novels to read about women, authored by women.
Author's Note: In a bold experiment, I let my blog editor try out AI when it suggested that as I was composing this post. There were actually some decent ideas posed by my AI co-author, deserving of careful consideration. After giving it all some thought, and working through my potential future remorse, I rewrote them, expanded them, eliminated some, and made the post my own. What do you think?
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