Rebel Girls: Their Fight For the Vote Paperback – April 28, 2008

In Philipp Blom's wonderful book, The Vertigo Years: Europe, 1900-1914, I came across a legendary photograph of Lililan Lenton. She was a British suffragette of some renown, with an extraordinary story (I won't offer any scene-spoilers here). The photograph was taken while she was imprisoned. Under surveillance, bereft of any of hair or clothing styles of the time to distract us, we see a striking young woman who looks as though she stepped out of history straight into our time. This piqued my curiosity and led me to Rebel Girls.That curiosity was rewarded. Rebel Girls is a fine book, painstakingly researched and well-informed about the Suffragettes. Lenton is but one of an amazing group.If there is one, albeit slight, blemish to the book, it's the author's occasional tendency to attempt to explicitly draw her subjects into our time and way of thinking, rather than letting them express themselves without such distraction. That said, it's not a major problem in my mind--and, to be sure,it's a temptation which snares any number of historical writers today.The Rebel Girls story is so important and interesting that it should be able to stand on its own, speaking to people far into the future.

What an amazing piece of work. This book really brought to life the times of the suffragette. Well reserched and an engaging historical read.

What an amazing book! If you have no idea what women were prepared to do for the vote and to change the male perception of what women are capable of this is a must read. I bought it whilst doing some research and some bits had me in tears.This is not a novel, but a narrative of the research undertaken to track the at times sketchy past of key women in out society.I am really glad I came across it!

Great read about northern suferhettes

This is a brilliant book. A must read for any one interested in the suffragette movement especially in the North of England.

very well researches, full of interesting facts, loads of footnotes, writer is very informative.

informative and entertaining. So pleased I have read it.