Unwed & Unbothered: The Defiant Lives of Single Women Throughout History

by Emma Duval

No partner? No problem! From economic independence to personal passions and everything in between, this beautifully illustrated guide profiles women who have had different reasons why they have chosen to remain single all throughout history that have nothing to do with the tragic trope of “spinsters.”

What do novelist Jane Austen, suffragist Susan B. Anthony, and Hollywood icon Greta Garbo have in common? They all subverted societal expectations and carved unique paths in history by remaining single and childless. There are many reasons why a woman might choose to remain single, from challenging gender norms, to financial independence, to the dislike of marriage as an institution. Author Emma Duval categorizes iconic and overlooked single women in history based on their motivations for singledom, celebrating their choice in a world that maligned the very notion. With captivating profiles and gorgeous illustrations, Duval memorializes her heroes in this accessible and iconic guide. 
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are voluntarily given.

This was an amazing book, filled with short life stories of women who chose to remain single, like Susan B. Anthony, Louisa May Alcott and Dr. Margaret Chung. Many I had heard of, but even more I had not. I especially loved that there was a full-color illustration for each person, not just one or two.

I would like to add that Emma Duval should be credited here as the author and illustrator. I am guessing that was just an oversight, as other sites said she is an author and illustrator.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended: sure
for mini-biographies that span all kinds of culture and times and goals, for useful starting points to find people and events to learn more about

Thoughts:
What I liked best about this is that it had a very wide range of women, from geographical locations as well as periods of time. From something like 1400s all the way up to 1990s of what I recall, so there was quite a spread. It felt like it represented a huge amount of human history, which I greatly appreciate after being forced into a Women's History class in 10th grade that I ended up loving and has served me very well in my life. Women have history too, especially single women, and this did an excellent job of highlighting them. The research this must have taken! Oh my goodness!

The categories helped break them up from being just a TON of profiles, and give some natural pauses to reflect on the women and stories in them. Some categories were more engaging to me than others, just based on my personal interests, but all of them were strong collections. There's also now a bunch of additional reading and research I want to do based on some of the really cool stories within.

If you didn't notice that cover already, take a look at it for sure! The art is wonderful, and is the same stlye inside with bold lines and a simple color palette. It kept it from being too busy. Some people got full page portraits, and some got smaller thumbnail portraits, I assume to save space and effort? It's also possible that some of these people didn't have good references of what they looked like to use, since it does go back pretty far before portraits or photographs and such would be accessible to many folks.

Overall, this book makes sense to read slowly, dipping in to touch on a specific category and or a few biographies at a time. Reading it straight through like I did made it a little less enjoyable because it made it harder to hold all that I learned in my mind, so I definitely recommend taking your time with it instead (or taking copious notes for things to return to!).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy. This is my honest review.



~See more reviews and book talk at MyBookJoy.com!~

[Vivacious · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book positions itself as a global exploration of unwed, child-free women, but it is not. When Sub-Saharan African women appear, their agency is rendered palatable through suffering, service, or tragedy. The absence of figures such as Amina of Zazzau (Nigeria), who ruled territory and led men into battle, and Caribbean feminists like Una Marson (Jamaica), the first Black woman employed by the BBC, suggests not mere omission but bias.

Also troubling is the book’s US-centric worldview. American women are described by state (“born in Arkansas”), while women elsewhere are identified by city/state and country, as though America needs no context and everywhere else does.

These blind spots seriously undermine the project, even though I enjoyed reading the featured stories. A book that claims global reach must also take responsibility for global representation.

I thank Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing a review copy of this book.

[NoMo Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 'Unwed & Unbothered', Emma Duval opens up individual stories of singlehood within women's history. And, in addition to the written text, Emma has created a series of fabulous illustrations that truly bring the women in the book to life.

Presented amongst the more well-known solo women in the book, such as Jane Austen, Greta Garbo or Queen Elizabeth I, there are a multitude of women who I had never heard of before (and I feel all the better for now knowing them) - including playwrights, lawyers, leaders, doctors, artists, activists and poets. Emma has also done a wonderful job of ensuring a truly diverse representation - seeking out single women from cultures and civilisations across the globe.

As well as being single, the majority of the women featured in the book are also not mothers. There's often a tendency for each new generation to believe that it's the first one to embrace some new way of life - and Emma's book proves that this also applies to the childfree lifestyle. 21st-century social media might like to give the impression that it's a contemporary movement, but the decision by some women to remain unmarried and without children is as old as time. Emma uncovers that history is brim full of empowering, independent, exciting women who lived outside of the bonds of marriage and the commitments of motherhood - finding the space and time to study, create, explore or discover so many other aspects of life.

Each of the featured women in this book is a tremendous role model for women today (solo or otherwise) - showing what women could achieve when their potential was unlocked, their education was valued or their freedom wasn't restricted, even in the darker reaches of history before concepts such as women's rights or feminism existed. Emma has done a beautiful job of shining a light on them all.

[Nicole Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Emma Duval's Unwed & Unbothered was an excellent book. It's not very long, but this small book holds a wealth of information. Duval showcases dozens of women in brief biographies, highlighting their work and accomplishments. I read a great deal of women's history, and while I was familiar with many of the notable women she featured in her book, there were many, many others I had never heard of before. Duval's book led me down a rabbit hole of research, and my TBR list now has an extra page of biographies. I absolutely recommend this book for anyone interested in history and women's studies; really, I feel that everyone should read it. Too often women's accomplishments and contributions are brushed under the rug. Emma Duval brings these women to the forefront and reminds readers that women are not silent bystanders. I feel that girls especially should read this book so they can remember that there is nothing they can't do if they put their minds to it. I will be buying a copy of this for my seven-year-old granddaughter; I want her to always remember that she is an unstoppable force.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why write about single women? Are their lives that different from the lives of married women? Maybe not as much today, but single women have long been stereotyped as vain, self-absorbed, deficient, unattractive, and generally inferior to the idealized version of womanhood.Introduction


Divided into ten chapters, Emma Duval introduces readers to single women from all corners of the Earth who ruled countries, wrote, and pushed for change in their lifetime. Some of these women will be known to readers, but hopefully, as I have experienced while reading, some new ones will be introduced as well. Vivid illustrations of some of the featured women, as well as an extensive introduction, timeline and bibliography are included in the text.

The women
(1)Gargi Vachaknavi (2) Lady Trieu (3) Hypatia (4) Song Ruoshen and Song Ruozhao
(5) Wallada bint al-Mustakfi (6) Hildegard of Bingen (7)Rosalba Carrierra
(8) Lady Elizabeth Hastings (9) Mary Moody Emerson (10)Elleanor Eldridge (11)Annie Smith Peck
(12)Teresa de la Parra (13)Dorothy Shaver (14) Dr. May Edward Chinn (15) Maurinne Dallas Watkins
(16)Isotta Nogarola (17) Mihri Hatun (18) Elena Lucrezia/Cornaro Piscopia
(19) Marie-Marguerite Biheron (20) Jane Austen (21) Florence Nightingale (22) Mary Cassatt
(23)Edmonia Lewis (24)Tsuda Umeko (25) Marie Marvingt (26) Anna May Wong (27) Keiko Fukuda
(28)Dr. Sivaramakrishna Iyer Padmavati (29) Anna Bijns (30) Gabrielle Suchon (31) Susan B. Anthony (32) Louisa May Alcott (33) Ida M. Tarbell (34) Edith Maude Eaton(Sui Sin Far)
(35) Alma W Thomas (36) Madeline de Scudery (37) Hannah Griffitts (38) Maria Edgeworth
(39) Barbara Hillary (40)Nabawiyya Musa (41) Nadia Boulanger (42) Sadie Delany and Bessie Delany (43)Yoyshiya Nobuko (44) Margaret Brent (45) Sor Juan Ines de la Cruz (46) Sarah Moore Grimke
(47) Henritte DeLille (48)Cornelia Sorabji (49) Lyda B. Conley (50) Sophia Duleep Singh
(51)Maggie Kuhn (52) Gerty Archimede (53) Dulcie September (54) The Beguines
(55)Anna Maria van Schurman (56) The Ladies of Millenum Hall (57) Margaretta Forten
(58) Dorothy Irene Height (59)Seondeok (60)Koken (61) Sitt al-Mulk (62) Elizabeth I
(63)Christina of Sweden (64) Zeb un-Nissa (65)Mkabayi kaJama (66) Dame Nita Barrow
(67) Ma Shouzhen (68) Jeanne Mance (69) Hester Lucy Stanhope (70) Dr. Margaret Chung
(71) Greta Garbo (72) Willie Mae Thornton (73) Colette Magny (74) Florence King
(75)Manuela Canizares (76)Lozen (77)Encarnacion Pinedo (78)Angelina Weld Grimke
(79) Betsie Ten Boom and Corrie ten Boom (80) May Ziadeh (81) Vivian G. Harsh
(82) Gladys Tantaquidgeon (83) Mridula Sarabhai


Quick read, and I feel that I learned about many women who have changed history in one form or another.

#UnwedUnbothered #NetGalley
Publication Date 10/09/25
Goodreads Review 01/11/25
Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own. The quote is taken from ARC, so it may be changed in the final printed copy.

[Tinn.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does one do on her 100th birthday? And what can you accomplish in your seventies with limited lung capacity? How much of an impact can a cookbook have?
According to the women featured in Unwed & Unbothered, quite a lot, actually.

This book is a collection of both lesser known and famous female figures who accomplished something remarkable - while being single and firmly sticking to it. I appreciated that not only were the women highlighted here from different time periods but also from a geographically more diverse area, something that isn't necessarily a given when we see female historical figure.
As for the thematic grouping - I see the point, I just forgot which particular group I was reading fairly soon so it probably didn't have the intended effect for me.
The stories featured were often impressive and moving even, considering how much these women accomplished in spite of them often going against the flow. However I feel like the shortness of many of these was actually an issue for me - I would have loved to read more about those for whome more material was available. My guess is that it was a 100% conscious choice to keep everything to a certain length to not make the book unbalanced.
Finally, a small note on the experience of reading on the Netgalley app: the tiny letters and full screen images concept really didn't work well for me as someone who absolutely hates using her phone in landscape mode, so it's really a testament to this book that I didn't quit right after chapter one 😅

All in all, this an interesting collection of single women who - for one reason or another - chose not to marry, yet accomplished great things in various areas of life. It's not an in-depth look into any of their lives, so if you're looking for that, you'll have to take the time to do your own research (or perhaps follow the sources at the end of the book) but it works nice as a little book-shaped "hall of fame" for our single ladies who did amazing work.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

[Mel Aras · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a delightful read. I loved everything from book title to the illustrations.

The book is divided into different categories on why these women chose to not to get married. Each category is in chronological order. In some cases it felt upsetting that the situations these women went through did not improve much which applies even today. However, we do not only see that not getting married was their own choice but also the way they tried to live their lives as they want with the obstacles that they faced. In that way, this is not just a book that is telling the stories of unmarried women but incredibly successful women that can inspire women. I do not think this book should only be read by women who are not into marriage but by every women and men.

I felt the variety of women chosen were very good. I have found out about many successful women that I did not know and noted down some. Especially I look forward to read some of the works mentioned in the book. I also loved to see the inclusion of Mihrî Hatun here.

Thanks to Netgalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Emma Duval for this advanced reader copy.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun collection of portraits and essays about women who were, indeed, unwed and unbothered. These are impactful and interesting women. If Duval’s short biographies are enough to pique your interest, there’s a bibliography in the back for further reading.
Some chapter designations or essay placements felt arbitrary. Many of these remarkable women could easily fit in 3 or more of Duval’s designations.
A reoccurring theme is ‘born of wealth and privilege’ and ‘status afforded her the ability to shirk norms.’ History decides whose stories it tells and many of these women had an advantage in making their way into history. More rose from poverty and obscurity as society shifted to allow that to happen but the further back you go, the more names you recognize.
I enjoyed the art style used for the portraits. It was disappointing not every woman was afforded that representation on page. I’m curious what went into that decision.
If you know a woman who is tired of explaining why she wants neither a spouse nor a child, she’ll enjoy this. 4/5

[Jaclyn Westlake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unwed & Unbothered is a gorgeous, deeply researched celebration of women who chose to live life on their own terms. Emma Duval highlights trailblazers from across centuries and continents -scientists, artists, explorers, rebels, and visionaries who defied convention long before independence was acceptable.

The research is meticulous, the storytelling engaging, and the illustrations are absolutely stunning. Each portrait radiates personality and reverence. This is the kind of book that belongs on every coffee table, ready to spark conversation and admiration in equal measure.

As a child-free woman, I found it profoundly validating to be reminded that we are part of a long, unbroken line of women who made similar choices. We aren’t alone in charting our own paths - we never were. Duval’s work beautifully honors that lineage, offering both inspiration and a sense of belonging to every reader who’s ever felt like they didn’t fit the mold.

Christmas shopping is going to be easy for me this year! Everyone on my list is getting a copy.

[jean]

This book could best be compared to a short encyclopedia of inspirational women throughout history and from many different countries and cultures. Each entry is about 1-2 pages. Some of the women I was quite familiar with. Others I had never heard about. Their common link was they all freely chose to remain unmarried in order to pursue their passions: in the arts, science, philosophy etc. Many additionally wanted to remain single to avoid the unhappy marriages they witnessed or the risk of death in childbirth that was prevalent in different periods of history. This is not an in depth look at any of these women but I think an interesting springboard to ideas for further reading.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biased or not, I think Emma's view of history is one that everyone should experience! She is so thoughtful in her research, so dedicated to the information she's presenting, and so honest about her own experiences. This beautiful exploration of how single women have carved their own paths and lived impactful lives—no matter how the world tried to tell them otherwise—is inspiring to say the least, and the message only grows more necessary as time goes on. Emma is one to watch!

[Macaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of essays about remarkable women in history. Each section is about a different group of women from rulers to women who don’t fit any specific group. Each woman gets a page essay and the book includes an excellent bibliography so you can learn more about the ones you find the most fascinating. Another book to give us more women in history we should know about but don’t.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the copy.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Andrews McNeal Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was fun and there was a good diversity of women featured. Books like this are important, especially in these times.

[Dawn Mabaso · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars - a light and helpful reference guide

Firstly, I would like to extend my thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing, Emma Duval, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book. Unwed & Unbothered is a beautifully illustrated guide that profiles single women across the world throughout history and explores the many reasons they chose to remain unmarried.

The author does a great job of showcasing a wide range of women from different cultures and eras, not just the usual Western names, and I really appreciated that effort. I also liked how the book was structured, I felt the short, one-page entries made it easy to read through, and the decision to group women by their reasons for staying single gave the book a sense of purpose beyond celebration. The illustrations were a lovely touch too, very warm and well-done.

If I had to nitpick, I would say there were a few moments where I felt the author made assumptions about how certain women felt or why they made certain choices, perhaps projecting more modern ideals onto them, when the historical evidence provided did not seem to support it outright. It didn’t ruin the book, but it was noticeable and slightly took away from the objectivity in a few spots.

Overall this was a warm, well-crafted, clearly well-researched, diverse, affirming read and I would recommend this to anyone with any sort of interest in the topic. I learned a great deal and I walked away really happy to have been exposed to so many women I had heard nothing about.