History & Biography

From monarchs to military heroes, notorious to unsung, we’ll feature biographies and research on women who history labelled dangerous.

 

Want to shine the spotlight on a dangerous woman from times gone past? See our submissions page for contribution guidelines.

Alifa Rifaat's work delved into the desires and domestic lives of 20th century Egyptian women.

Alifa Rifaat

Writing women’s desires and domestic lives in 20th century Egypt

Alia Soliman looks at the ‘danger’ in the work of Egyptian writer Alifa Rifaat, whose ‘imprint lingers as someone who dared speak of female desire in what was at the time an almost completely patriarchal society’. Continue reading
Caroline Norton

Caroline Norton

The woman who fought for – and won – rights for married women in England

Francine Ryan demonstrates how Caroline Norton, a Victorian-era woman who ‘never pretended to the wild and ridiculous doctrine of equality’ campaigned for married women’s rights to child custody and property. Continue reading
Isabella Bird

Isabella Bird

Writer, explorer, trailblazer

In the second of a series of posts from Scottish PEN (a centre of PEN International, the worldwide association of writers promoting literature and freedom of expression), Jenni Calder explores the life and writing of Isabella Bird. Continue reading
Anna Komnene

Anna Komnene

Twelfth-century Greek Byzantine princess, historian, scholar–and conspirator?

Ioulia Kolovou takes a fascinating look at the way Byzantine princess Anna Komnene has been portrayed in history and literature as ‘dangerous’. Continue reading
Bletchley Girls

An Unlikely Asset

Insight into one of ‘The Bletchley Girls’

In our second post for Edinburgh Spy Week, Tessa Dunlop shares the time she spent with Rozanne Colchester, one of the many women who worked as codebreakers at Bletchley Park during World War II. Continue reading