A History of Women in 101 Objects: A Walk Through Female History (Unabridged‪)‬

This is a neglected history. No attempt at a sweeping,
definitive, exhaustive history of the world but something quieter, more
intimate and particular, told by Annabelle Hirsch through her selection of 101
objects, and now brought thrillingly alive for you by a chorus of 101
remarkable women in this ground-breaking audio release.


Open up this cabinet of curiosities and you’ll discover objects that have been
highly esteemed and others that are humble and domestic. Some (like a
sixteenth-century glass dildo, as read by Miriam Margolyes) are objects
of female pleasure, some (a thumbscrew, as read by Val McDermid) of
female subjugation. There are artefacts of women celebrated by history (The
Brontë Sisters’ miniature books, as read by Rebecca Hall) and of women
unfairly forgotten by it (a dish with the likeness of Roxelana, as read by Elif
Shafak); examples of female rebellion (a bunch of hair, as read by Shirin
Neshat) and of self-revelation (an unusual portrait, as read by Daisy
Ridley); objects that are inspiring (Aretha Franklin’s song ‘Respect’, as
read by Cynthia Erivo), curious (George Sand’s right arm, as read by Jeanette
Winterson) or just fundamentally ill-conceived (like radium-laced
chocolate, as read by Meera Syal).


This highly acclaimed and very overdue corrective reveals what a healed femur (Gillian
Anderson) says about civilisation, what men have to fear from hat pins (Helena
Bonham Carter), and it shows that the past has always been as complicated
and fascinating as the women that peopled it.


Refuge, is a registered charity in the UK with charity
nos. 277424. 25% percent of the proceeds* received by Canongate Books from this
audiobook will be made available to the charity for their work empowering women
and children experiencing domestic violence. This donation has
been made possible by Canongate Books, Annabelle Hirsch, Eleanor Updegraff and
Kein und Aber.



*Proceeds means the cash-price or
cash-equivalent price less sales taxes.


The readers, in order of appearance:


Helena Gonda, Annabelle Hirsch, Gillian Anderson, Katy Hessel, Anita Rani,
Jackie Kay, Len Pennie, Shirley Manson, Rebecca Solnit, Sandi Toksvig, Marina
Hyde, Naomi Shimada, Harriet Walter, Celia Imrie, Kate Manne, Margaret Atwood,
Janina Ramirez, Doon Mackichan, Helen Mirren, Elif Shafak, Kathryn Hunter, Kate
Mosse, Miriam Margolyes, Val McDermid, Caitlin Moran, Dolly Alderton, Georgia
Byng, Olivia Colman, Sasha Lane, Adjoa Andoh, Elizabeth Acevedo, Sue Perkins,
Ece Temelkuran, Mary Ann Sieghart, Alison Steadman, Daisy Ridley, Rebecca Hall,
Krista Tippett, Patience Agbabi, Michelle Newell, Jeanette Winterson, Geraldine
James, Sinead Cusack, Tiya Miles, Crystal Clarke, Louise Brealey, Leïla
Slimani, Helena Kennedy, Samin Nosrat, Anna Holmes, Michelle Gomez, India
Knight, Natascha McElhone, Lauren Elkin, Kate Winslet, Helena Bonham Carter,
Sylvia Whitman, Noma Dumezweni, Meera Syal, Niamh McGrady, Denise Gough,
Jacqueline Wilson, Siri Hustvedt, Gaby Wood, Sophie Hunter, Lisa-Kaindé Diaz,
Annabel Mullion, Sharleen Spiteri, Jennifer Clement, Julia Gillard, Christiane
Amanpour, Jude Kelly, Kerry Fox, Ruth Rogers, Maggie Smith, Hanna Schygulla,
Kübra Gümüsay, Erica Wagner, Sandra Hüller, Jodie Whittaker, Virginie Efira,
Nicola Sturgeon, Juno Dawson, Juliet Stevenson, Sally Phillips, Anjelica
Huston, Lisa Dwan, Ruth Ozeki, Joanna Lumley, Cynthia Erivo, Martha Wainwright,
Eleanor Updegraff, Sinéad Gleeson, Salena Godden, Lili Taylor, Mariella
Frostrup, Rakie Ayola, Katie Kitamura, Saffron Hocking, Tahmima Anam, Vivian
Oparah, Shirin Neshat.