The Story

This isn't a novel with a single plot, but it tells a powerful true story. Myra Reynolds pieces together the lives of English women from 1650 to 1760 who were hungry for knowledge. We meet women who collected huge libraries, argued about science and philosophy, wrote their own books (sometimes anonymously!), and created spaces where people could gather to talk about big ideas. The book shows how they navigated a society that was often suspicious of educated women.

Why You Should Read It

I loved how this book made history feel personal. Reynolds uses letters, diaries, and book lists to show us these women as real people—their frustrations, their passions, their quiet rebellions. You get a real sense of their determination. It’s inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking. It completely reshaped my view of that era. I stopped seeing it as just the time of powdered wigs and started seeing the network of brilliant women thinking and writing beneath the surface.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves hidden history, stories about underdogs, or strong women. If you enjoyed books like The Glass Universe or just want a break from kings-and-generals history, this is for you. It’s a bit academic in its sourcing (be ready for footnotes), but the stories themselves are utterly captivating. You’ll finish it looking at the 17th and 18th centuries in a whole new light.