From the first novel published in mainland Australia in 1838, women have been writing it for themselves. Among them are poets, prolific novelists such as Rosa Praed, and botanists like Louisa Atkinson. From household names to obscurity, A Bright and Fiery Troop rediscovers the rich treasures of Australia’s literary tradition. It is the first critical analysis of the major Australian women...

Nawal el Saadawi has been pilloried, censored, imprisoned and exiled for her refusal to accept the oppressions imposed on women by sex and class. For her, writing and action have been inseparable and this is reflected in some of the most evocative and disturbing novels ever written by or about Arab women. Born in a small Egyptian village in 1931, Nawal el Saadawi went on to train as a medical...

A SPINIFEX FEMINIST CLASSIC
Janice Raymond offers a vision of female friendship that is as exhilarating as it is controversial. In this feminist classic, she explores the many manifestations of friendship between women, including the ancient Greek hetairai, the sisterhood of medieval nuns and the marriage resisters of China. Thousands of women have created their own communities and destinies...

Zillah Eisenstein grew up against the background of the civil rights movement in the USA. The daughter of communist, atheist, Jewish parents, her worldview has been shaped by this unusual background of politics. She writes: I have never known God as an explanation for what people do, or for what happens to them. I was brought up to believe in people: that people make the world through their...