A History of France in 21 Women

By: Katherine Pangonis

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Hardcover | 30 June 2026

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Format
Hardcover

Dimensions(cm)
21.6 x 13.5 x 3.4

Hardcover

RRP $39.99

$31.75

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From Eleanor of Aquitaine to Edith Piaf, Colette to Coco Chanel, discover the lives of 21 women who made French history

'Fascinating, gripping, vividly detailed, this is a wonderful book full of unforgettable lives.' Kate Williams, author of Becoming Queen

French women have always had so much more to say than 'let them eat cake'! Whether kicking the English out of Orleans, marching on Versailles or running messages for the French resistance, their stories of courage, creativity and genius have long defined French history.

Unveiling the lives of twenty-one women who changed the course of French history, Katherine Pangonis spins a new history of France from the fifth century to the present day.

Trace the rise of Eleanor of Aquitaine from teenage bride to the most powerful woman in medieval Europe; follow Berthe Morisot as she infiltrates art's biggest boy's club - the Impressionists; and discover how two of the twentieth century's great fashion icons - Coco Chanel and Josephine Baker - found themselves spying for opposite sides during World War Two. Meet lesser known (yet no less influential) figures like Christine de Pizan, a medieval proto-feminist, and Paulette Nardal, who took Paris's overwhelmingly white, male literary establishment by storm. Fresh, funny and unapologetically feminist, A History of France in 21 Women reveals France as never before.

About the Author

Katherine Pangonis is an author and historian, specialising in Renaissance and medieval history. She has published two books: Queens of Jerusalem and Twilight Cities. She splits her time between Paris and London.

Industry Reviews

'Fascinating, gripping, vividly detailed, this is a wonderful book full of unforgettable lives.' -Kate Williams, author of Becoming Queen

'Beautifully written and razor-sharp, Pangonis once again brings to life lost stories from our past, combining academic excellence with thrilling storytelling. The result is masterful.' -Alice Loxton, author of Eighteen

'Enormously enjoyable. Katherine Pangonis assembles a fantastic combination of French icons and underappreciated heroines, and some real villains too - a book that really enriches the history of France.' -Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women

'Pangonis brings the history of France to life... Far from a dry textbook, Pangonis breathes life into each story, with accessible and engaging writing that leans into the inherent drama.' -Daily Express (8/10)

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