Cadogan Square

My Story Collection

by Carol Drinkwater

Cadogan Square is two interconnected stories about life in Edwardian England spanning 15 years. The first story begins in 1899: Flora Bonnington wants to vote and be educated but must stand up to the men around her, especially her father to achieve her dream The second tale begins in 1909 and is about Dollie, Flora's ward. Dollie is swept up in the campaign for Votes for Women, but ashe movement turns violent, women are imprisoned and endanger their lives with hunger strikes.

Includes:
* 1900: A Brand New Century
* Suffragette

with additional content.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 2, 2010

About the author

Carol Drinkwater is an Anglo-Irish actress, author and filmmaker.

Reviews

[Esther · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was really not that good. Perhaps the plot could be better. Nothing exciting really happens in it.

[Φερειπείν · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume, structured through a diary-like narration, offers a compelling exploration of the earliest organized initiatives by women to claim rights unjustly withheld from them—efforts that would eventually crystallize into the feminist movement. By anchoring the narrative in lived experience, the text not only recounts historical events but also illuminates the lives of pioneering figures whose courage and vision established the foundations of feminist struggle.

A distinctive feature of the work lies in its narrative voice: the story is mediated through adolescent girls who gradually transition into early adulthood. This perspective lends the text a striking immediacy and authenticity, free from patronizing overtones, and conveys a clarity of expression that is both unfiltered and resonant.

What distinguishes this book from other works on feminism is its ability to immerse the reader in the world of the suffragettes. It succeeds in communicating both the intensity of their struggle and the endurance required to sustain it, while simultaneously rendering visible the broader historical context. The narrative does not restrict itself to the central theme of women’s rights; it equally reconstructs the political and social dynamics of the era, as well as the technological advancements that framed and shaped women’s activism.

Taken together, these elements make the book not only a significant contribution to feminist historiography but also a vivid and engaging account of a transformative period. It is a work that rewards both scholarly interest and personal engagement.



Πρόκειται για ενα βιβλίο που καλύπτει, μέσω ημερολογιακής αφήγησης τις πρώτες οργανωμένες κινήσεις των γυναικών για διεκδίκηση δικαιωμάτων που στερούνταν αδικαιολόγητα, προσπάθειες που έχτισαν "επίσημα" το φεμινιστικό κίνημα.
Το γεγονός πως η αφήγηση ξετυλίγεται εμπειρικά, παραθέτοντας ιστορικά γεγονότα και ιστορικές προσωπικότητες που άφησαν το στίγμα τους και θεμελίωσαν με την τόλμη τους τη βάση του φεμινιστικού αγώνα, μια αφήγηση που υπαγορεύεται από εφηβα κορίτσια μέχρι να οδηγηθούν στην πρώτη ενηλικίωση, προσδίδει μια καθαρότητα στην έκφραση απατρονάριστη, αγνή και αυθεντική.
Έχοντας διαβάσει αρκετά βιβλία για τον φεμινισμό, θα πω με το χέρι στην καρδιά πως είναι από τα λίγα αναγνώσματα που με έσυραν στον κόσμο των σουφραζετών , με έκαναν κοινωνό της απίστευτης προσπάθειας, του επίμονου εγώνα και της εμπειρίας τους, απεικονίζοντας με εκπληκτική ζωντάνια το ιστορικό πλαίσιο της εποχής, υποστηριζόμενο όχι μόνο από το κεντρικό θέμα της πλοκής αλλά ζωντανεύοντας τις πολιτικές και κοινωνικές συνθήκες καθώς και τα τεχνολογικά επιτεύγματα της εποχής.
Το απόλαυσα πραγματικά.

[Alayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book published by Scholastic, which means it was for children. That said, it contained two stories, the first set in 1900, and the second from 1909-1919. It was about women's suffrage and I found it very slow. I read the first several chapters of each story then skipped to the end of each. Not particularly recommended.

[King FoXie · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst books I ever read

[Ava M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda gruesome in some parts though

[Yvette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Reading about the suffrage movement from the perspective of two women - one wealthy and one poor - whose paths cross in an incredible way. I never knew the difference between suffragists and suffragettes and I now feel a lot more informed on the history of women's liberation. A brilliant book!

[geo bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I learnt about a period.