Fierce: Essays by and about Dauntless Women

by Karyn Kloumann (Editor), Nancy Agabian, Betsy Andrews

Introducing "Fierce", thirteen powerful, entwined biographies and memoirs that describe a staunchly Feminist “To thine own self be true.” Historical documentation of human affairs informs the past, but what of the understated and overlooked herstories of half of the world’s population? Fierce explores the lives of “masterless women” in education, entrepreneurship, religion, the armed forces, the arts, adventuring, and activism, celebrating their strengths and achievements while questioning the systems that erased the significance of their influence and importance. The writers range in age from their 20s to their 60s, and they hail from diverse heritages and orientations. By sharing the rich context of their unique life experiences, the authors emphasize their connection to each of their herstorical subjects, whose various provenances span continents and centuries. These essays shine a light on the shadowy, lesser-known impact that women have had on global history through the importance of each of these • A writer questioning the pervasive sway of caste systems in her own life considers a humble 19th-century Indian woman who made a terrible sacrifice to change an unfair law.• One writer’s antiwar sensibility is challenged and transforms into that of sympathetic recognition as she regards the roles of murderous aviatrixes in World War II. • The blacklisted Armenian intellectual who disappeared without a trace mirrors the loss of information about the essayist’s own family in the diaspora and similarly reflects the ongoing decline of her elderly mother’s cognitive abilities.• A legendary spirit entity in Native American tradition is inspiring a new generation of young women to create thoughtful and dynamic change inside and outside of their community. Along with striking frontispiece illustrations, additional bonus material encompasses an extensive Reader’s Guide including book group materials and substantial writing and conversation prompts, creating a noteworthy compendium to aid contemplation and better understanding of these herstories that analyzes their links to contemporary and future female narratives. Armed with this knowledge and these truths, each reader can become, “A queen because she ruled over herself, and because she ruled over herself, a queen.”— From "Radiant Chicaba Herstories"

Genres: Essays

344 pages, Paperback

Published November 28, 2018

Reviews

[Nebulous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Organic Photography's and Nauset Press's cover photo and book design respectively caught my eye when I came across Fierce: Essays by and about Dauntless Woman. It was only through reading the Foreword and Introduction that is beautifully written by Karyn Kloumann that I understood the symbolism of it. This book is so informative along with being educational and the narrative style of all writers captured my attention. Each story is so different but yet so alike as it celebrates the indomitable spirit of the thirteen remarkable firebrand of women. The challenges and struggles faced by these women go beyond borders and the single word association for the direction of the essay that highlights the essence of each and every one of them makes it a very authentic, raw and emotional read. There is always something to learn and take away from every essay.
A big thank you to VoraciousReadersOnly for giving me a free review copy of this book.

[Laura Malkiewich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection of stories that entangle memoir with history. I appreciated the collection of unsung sheros that range from activists to writers, from European descent to Native American descent.

[Dalton Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, amazing words. Important. Everyone should read.