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Feminist History for Every Day of the Year: 366 incredible women, from Boudica to Taylor Swift
Feminist History for Every Day of the Year by bestselling author and feminist champion Kate Mosse tells the story of women's and girls' history, sweeping across the world and through the ages.
Discover something new every day in this brilliant gift for readers of all ages.
From Mary Anning to Simone Biles, Billie Eilish to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Malala Yousafzai to Mary Wollstonecraft, discover the stories of 366 incredible women throughout history.
Within these pages you'll find well known figures and unsung heroes, key cultural moments and forgotten stories, spanning across the world and through time, from ancient times to the modern day.
With a piece of history for every day of the year, this is the perfect book to dip into time and time again. Full of quotes, poems, illustrations and pictures, Feminist History for Every Day of the Year is for all ages, celebrating and championing an inspiring history that is relevant to us all.
What will you discover today?
Who will you discover today?
Discover something new every day in this brilliant gift for readers of all ages.
From Mary Anning to Simone Biles, Billie Eilish to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Malala Yousafzai to Mary Wollstonecraft, discover the stories of 366 incredible women throughout history.
Within these pages you'll find well known figures and unsung heroes, key cultural moments and forgotten stories, spanning across the world and through time, from ancient times to the modern day.
With a piece of history for every day of the year, this is the perfect book to dip into time and time again. Full of quotes, poems, illustrations and pictures, Feminist History for Every Day of the Year is for all ages, celebrating and championing an inspiring history that is relevant to us all.
What will you discover today?
Who will you discover today?
615 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2025
148 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Kate Mosse
92 books3,381 followersKate Mosse is an international bestselling author with sales of more than five million copies in 42 languages. Her fiction includes the novels Labyrinth (2005), Sepulchre (2007), The Winter Ghosts (2009), and Citadel (2012), as well as an acclaimed collection of short stories, The Mistletoe Bride & Other Haunting Tales (2013). Kate’s new novel, The Taxidermist’s Daughter is out now.
Kate is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize) and in June 2013, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to literature. She lives in Sussex.
Kate is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize) and in June 2013, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to literature. She lives in Sussex.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 25, 2025
Grateful to receive an early proof for this, and was so so excited to dig in to such a wonderful concept! The proof copy was only the month of January (and a list of who/what else features in the other days of the year) but I am already thoroughly disappointed.
I’m REALLY hoping that this is a very VERY rough outline of what is to come, because even the first few days seem like completely unfinished drafts. I was hoping for at least a full page for each figure, but some are simply a few short sentences, leaving the rest of the page blank, with a few entries completely disregarding WHY the figure is a part of feminist history.
Although I know this is aimed at a more general audience (and some pages may be changed before publishing), I think leaving out the likes of Sylvia Plath, bell hooks and Judith Butler and instead dedicating days to JK Rowling and Margaret Thatcher is an interesting choice to say the least. Whether this is intended to be a statement on behalf of the author or not, I am concerned that it will come across in that way when the book is published regardless. Judging by the length and depth (or lack thereof) of the pages sampled, I doubt these figures will be tackled or critiqued particularly well. It’s a decision that has certainly put me and few others off already.
All in all, I picked this up so enthusiastically, but left wanting to bash my head against the wall. I will wait to see how the published work comes out and I truly hope it is far more polished and well thought out than what is being sent to people currently, because this is a fantastic concept that deserves to be done well.
I’m REALLY hoping that this is a very VERY rough outline of what is to come, because even the first few days seem like completely unfinished drafts. I was hoping for at least a full page for each figure, but some are simply a few short sentences, leaving the rest of the page blank, with a few entries completely disregarding WHY the figure is a part of feminist history.
Although I know this is aimed at a more general audience (and some pages may be changed before publishing), I think leaving out the likes of Sylvia Plath, bell hooks and Judith Butler and instead dedicating days to JK Rowling and Margaret Thatcher is an interesting choice to say the least. Whether this is intended to be a statement on behalf of the author or not, I am concerned that it will come across in that way when the book is published regardless. Judging by the length and depth (or lack thereof) of the pages sampled, I doubt these figures will be tackled or critiqued particularly well. It’s a decision that has certainly put me and few others off already.
All in all, I picked this up so enthusiastically, but left wanting to bash my head against the wall. I will wait to see how the published work comes out and I truly hope it is far more polished and well thought out than what is being sent to people currently, because this is a fantastic concept that deserves to be done well.
September 24, 2025
There’s no selection of women that would please everyone, and this has some lovely sections on things like male feminists, but essentially it’s an inconsistent mash of obvious, controversial and fluffy recipients, and there’s not enough detail to feel meaningful.
Read
September 22, 2025this was a really nice bitesize history lesson/praise of modern women in all fields and walks of life
It really did just graze the surface but it still managed to teach me a lot about a lot of different people, and I did note down some I would love to learn more about
It really did just graze the surface but it still managed to teach me a lot about a lot of different people, and I did note down some I would love to learn more about
September 12, 2025
Excellent assortment of women from all continents and eras, backgrounds and skills. Don’t listen to the 1 star reviews that said the preview wasn’t complete- it wasn’t a fair assessment as the book is now complete.
September 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The one thing about me? I will always devour a book that celebrates strong women, and Kate Mosse’s Feminist History for Every Day of the Year is an absolute feast.
Spanning 366 days, this book offers a daily dose of female power, highlighting the lives and legacies of women who’ve made significant changes in the world, often against staggering odds. From names like Malala Yousafzai, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Emma Watson, Sophie Scholl, and Hedy Lamarr (some of my personal favourites!), to lesser known or more controversial figures, this book doesn't shy away from complexity.
One of the book's strongest features is its structure. Not only are individual women celebrated daily, but each month also closes with a powerful essay exploring key feminist issues such as suffrage, abortion rights, domestic abuse, and women in politics. These essays ground the stories in a broader social and political context, reminding us that the fight for women’s rights has been long, hard won, and far from over.
In a time when it feels like progress is regressing, this book is both a reminder and a call to action. The women featured here laid the groundwork for many of the rights we enjoy today. Their stories deserve to be remembered, shared, and built upon.
Whether you're a lifelong feminist or someone just beginning to explore women's history, this is a must read. Uplifting, enraging, inspiring, it’s a book that reminds us that women have always shaped the world. It's time history reflected that.
The one thing about me? I will always devour a book that celebrates strong women, and Kate Mosse’s Feminist History for Every Day of the Year is an absolute feast.
Spanning 366 days, this book offers a daily dose of female power, highlighting the lives and legacies of women who’ve made significant changes in the world, often against staggering odds. From names like Malala Yousafzai, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Emma Watson, Sophie Scholl, and Hedy Lamarr (some of my personal favourites!), to lesser known or more controversial figures, this book doesn't shy away from complexity.
One of the book's strongest features is its structure. Not only are individual women celebrated daily, but each month also closes with a powerful essay exploring key feminist issues such as suffrage, abortion rights, domestic abuse, and women in politics. These essays ground the stories in a broader social and political context, reminding us that the fight for women’s rights has been long, hard won, and far from over.
In a time when it feels like progress is regressing, this book is both a reminder and a call to action. The women featured here laid the groundwork for many of the rights we enjoy today. Their stories deserve to be remembered, shared, and built upon.
Whether you're a lifelong feminist or someone just beginning to explore women's history, this is a must read. Uplifting, enraging, inspiring, it’s a book that reminds us that women have always shaped the world. It's time history reflected that.
September 7, 2025
I loved the approach for this novel! While I was aching for a little more depth and detail in each of the snapshots of these women, I also understand that this is a starting place for younger readers. I found myself looking up these women more carefully and learning more about them after reading!
I especially loved that Julian of Norwich was included--what an icon that everyone should know!
ALC Copy through Libro.fm
I especially loved that Julian of Norwich was included--what an icon that everyone should know!
ALC Copy through Libro.fm
February 20, 2026
Feminist History for Every Day of the Year: 366 Incredible Women, From Boudica to Taylor Swift by Kate Mosse is exactly the kind of coffee table book that feels substantial before you even open it. At over 600 pages of stories spanning the globe and centuries, it promises a daily dose of inspiration — and for many days it delivers. But it is also a book that invites a reader to ponder what kind of feminist history we want when we open a beautifully bound anthology like this.
From the outset, Mosse makes her mission clear: to celebrate the breadth of women’s and girls’ contributions to culture, politics, science, art, activism and more. Within these pages you’ll find well-known figures like Malala Yousafzai, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Simone Biles, and Billie Eilish, alongside lesser-known but equally fascinating people who shaped their worlds or defied expectations. There’s a global sweep here — ancient archeologists and mystics, queens and activists, scientists and cultural icons — all chosen to offer something for every day of the year.
Design and Accessibility
One of the first things that strikes you is how inviting the book is. It’s lavishly illustrated and accessible in tone, and short biographical entries make it easy to browse casually or to pick up on a specific date. In that sense, it’s the quintessential cocktail/coffee table book — something to spark conversation, curiosity, and quick daily reflection without demanding marathon reading sessions.
This format is both a strength and, for some readers, a limitation. Many entries are succinct — just a few hundred words apiece — which makes flipping through the book feel breezy but can also leave you wishing for more depth. Some figures are so significant that a paragraph feels too short to capture their complex legacies. A handful of readers have pointed out that the brevity sometimes makes the entries feel like snapshots rather than stories you can really sink your teeth into.
A Celebration With a Dash of Controversy
Because the goal is breadth over deep biography, you’ll find names that everyone recognizes and others that might actively surprise you — or make you raise an eyebrow. That’s part of the book’s charm for some and part of its challenge for others. There’s a delightful democratic spirit to seeing a warrior queen, a contemporary pop star, a scientist, and a political activist all given space side by side. But the ordering and selection process — especially for figures with complicated legacies — aren’t always clear. This brings me to one of your exact concerns: the choice to assign each woman a specific calendar day. In some cases, this leads to linking someone’s story to a date like the anniversary of their death — as with Anne Boleyn, whose entry is placed on the day she died. Some readers may find this evocative, but others may agree with you that the randomness of that choice feels arbitrary, or even jarring. It raises an interesting question: should a historical anthology prioritize calendar symmetry, or should it let the stories themselves decide their placement?
There’s also a mix of reception from other readers you’ll find online. For some, the book is a treasure trove — introducing overlooked historical figures and prompting deeper exploration. For others, the selection feels inconsistent, with some biographies feeling too brief or curated in ways that don’t fully engage with why the people included are truly significant.
Who Will Love It and Why
For readers looking for a celebratory, accessible, visually appealing introduction to women’s achievements across time and cultures, this book is a joy. It’s the kind of thing you can dip in and out of, read a page a day, share with friends, and come back to again and again. That’s precisely its strength as a coffee table book — it’s approachable without being intimidating.
But if you’re coming to it expecting in-depth biographies or a tightly curated narrative about feminist history, you might find it a bit underwhelming in places. The format is intentionally broad, and in service of inclusivity and variety it sometimes sacrifices depth.
Bottom Line
Feminist History for Every Day of the Year is a generous, engaging anthology that succeeds brilliantly as a celebratory coffee table/quick-dip history book. It introduces an extraordinary array of women (and people who have shaped women’s history) in a way that’s easy to engage with — even if it occasionally feels too short on detail or uneven in its choices. It’s a book that inspires curiosity, conversation, and further reading — and for many, that’s exactly the point.
From the outset, Mosse makes her mission clear: to celebrate the breadth of women’s and girls’ contributions to culture, politics, science, art, activism and more. Within these pages you’ll find well-known figures like Malala Yousafzai, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Simone Biles, and Billie Eilish, alongside lesser-known but equally fascinating people who shaped their worlds or defied expectations. There’s a global sweep here — ancient archeologists and mystics, queens and activists, scientists and cultural icons — all chosen to offer something for every day of the year.
Design and Accessibility
One of the first things that strikes you is how inviting the book is. It’s lavishly illustrated and accessible in tone, and short biographical entries make it easy to browse casually or to pick up on a specific date. In that sense, it’s the quintessential cocktail/coffee table book — something to spark conversation, curiosity, and quick daily reflection without demanding marathon reading sessions.
This format is both a strength and, for some readers, a limitation. Many entries are succinct — just a few hundred words apiece — which makes flipping through the book feel breezy but can also leave you wishing for more depth. Some figures are so significant that a paragraph feels too short to capture their complex legacies. A handful of readers have pointed out that the brevity sometimes makes the entries feel like snapshots rather than stories you can really sink your teeth into.
A Celebration With a Dash of Controversy
Because the goal is breadth over deep biography, you’ll find names that everyone recognizes and others that might actively surprise you — or make you raise an eyebrow. That’s part of the book’s charm for some and part of its challenge for others. There’s a delightful democratic spirit to seeing a warrior queen, a contemporary pop star, a scientist, and a political activist all given space side by side. But the ordering and selection process — especially for figures with complicated legacies — aren’t always clear. This brings me to one of your exact concerns: the choice to assign each woman a specific calendar day. In some cases, this leads to linking someone’s story to a date like the anniversary of their death — as with Anne Boleyn, whose entry is placed on the day she died. Some readers may find this evocative, but others may agree with you that the randomness of that choice feels arbitrary, or even jarring. It raises an interesting question: should a historical anthology prioritize calendar symmetry, or should it let the stories themselves decide their placement?
There’s also a mix of reception from other readers you’ll find online. For some, the book is a treasure trove — introducing overlooked historical figures and prompting deeper exploration. For others, the selection feels inconsistent, with some biographies feeling too brief or curated in ways that don’t fully engage with why the people included are truly significant.
Who Will Love It and Why
For readers looking for a celebratory, accessible, visually appealing introduction to women’s achievements across time and cultures, this book is a joy. It’s the kind of thing you can dip in and out of, read a page a day, share with friends, and come back to again and again. That’s precisely its strength as a coffee table book — it’s approachable without being intimidating.
But if you’re coming to it expecting in-depth biographies or a tightly curated narrative about feminist history, you might find it a bit underwhelming in places. The format is intentionally broad, and in service of inclusivity and variety it sometimes sacrifices depth.
Bottom Line
Feminist History for Every Day of the Year is a generous, engaging anthology that succeeds brilliantly as a celebratory coffee table/quick-dip history book. It introduces an extraordinary array of women (and people who have shaped women’s history) in a way that’s easy to engage with — even if it occasionally feels too short on detail or uneven in its choices. It’s a book that inspires curiosity, conversation, and further reading — and for many, that’s exactly the point.
November 17, 2025
I've found out about lots more women who I didn't know before. I spotted quite a few factual errors, the worst being that Boo Radley was the black man accused of rape in To kill a mockingbird. How did everyone miss that before it got published? There were some interesting inclusions and exclusions for a feminist history and I found it quite patronising at times, but that's probably because I'm not the target audience.
March 7, 2026
Great feminine collection
The year of great women. Some may wonderful discoveries others great writers and artists. But all women who made some kind of difference. Not all the women were right in their beliefs, but they were strong women who should be celebrated. Highly recommend
The year of great women. Some may wonderful discoveries others great writers and artists. But all women who made some kind of difference. Not all the women were right in their beliefs, but they were strong women who should be celebrated. Highly recommend
September 8, 2025
Took me a hot minute to get into this but it was super informative and really empowering to learn about so many amazing women.
October 2, 2025
An absolute dream.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews