Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men to Do Shit They Weren't Supposed to Do

by Tracy Dawson, Tina Berning (Illustrator)

In this entertaining and eye-opening collection, writer, actor, and feminist Tracy Dawson showcases trailblazers throughout history who disguised themselves as men and continuously broke the rules to gain access and opportunities denied them because they were women.

“This book will surprise, astonish, and hopefully anger you on the lengths women have had to go to pursue their dreams. Tracy has such a gift for storytelling and making history leap off the page. Her book has a wit that suggests it was written by a man since everyone knows women aren't this funny.”—Kay Cannon, writer, producer, director (Pitch Perfect, Cinderella)

“A smart, funny journey through history that introduces us to the rule breakers who made history worth traveling through.”—Patton Oswalt

“I came up with Tracy as a fellow sketch comedian on the vomit-soaked stages of the Toronto comedy scene. And like the brilliant, resourceful, rule-breaking, damn-well-stubborn sisters in Let Me Be Frank, Tracy is someone who gets the job done, and gets it done well.”—Samantha Bee

"This spirited feminist history entertains and enlightens."—Publishers Weekly

Let Me Be Frank illuminates with a wry warmth the incredible stories of a diverse group of women from different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds who have defied the patriarchy, refusing to allow men or the status quo to define their lives or break their spirit. An often sardonic and thoroughly impassioned homage to female ingenuity and tenacity, the women profiled in this inspiring anthology broke the rules to reach their goals and refused to take “no” for an answer. These women took matters into their own hands, dressing—sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively—as men to do what they wanted to do. This includes competing in marathons, publishing books, escaping enslavement, practicing medicine, tunneling deep in the earth as miners, taking to the seas as pirates and serving on the frontlines in the military, among many other pursuits. Not only did these women persist, many unknowingly made history and ultimately inspired later generations in doing so. This compendium is an informative and enthralling celebration of these revolutionary badasses who have changed the world and our lives.

Let Me Be Frank is filled with more than two dozen specially commissioned, full-color illustrations and hand-lettering by artist Tina Berning, whose multi-award-winning work has been published in numerous publications and anthologies worldwide, and is designed by Alex Kalman.

WOMEN PROFILED INCLUDE: Jeanne Baret * Anne Bonny and Mary Read * Christian Caddell * Ellen Craft * Catalina De Erauso * Louise Augustine Gleizes * Hatshepsut * Annie Hindle and Florence Hines* Pili Hussein * Joan of Arc * Rena “Rusty” Kanokogi * Margaret King * Dorothy Lawrence * Tarpé Mills * Hannah Snell * Kathrine Switzer * Maria Toorpakai * Dr. Mary Edwards Walker * Cathay Williams

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Feminism, Biography, LGBT, Audiobook, Historical

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2022

About the author

Tracy Dawson is the author of Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men to Do Shit They Weren't Supposed to Do, coming from HarperCollins in May 2022. Tracy began on the mainstage of the renowned Second City in Toronto. In 2009 Tracy won an emerging TV writer award at the Banff World Television Festival and was soon staffed as a writer (and later cast as a lead actor) on the Canadian comedy series, Call Me Fitz. Tracy went on to win the Gemini Award and the Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Comedic Actress for her work opposite Jason Priestley on Fitz. Tracy's play, them & us, was produced in 2009 by the prestigious Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto. In 2014 Tracy worked as a writer on the TBS sitcom Your Family Or Mine. She got to write jokes for Richard Dreyfuss and Ed Begley Jr. on that show. Ed called her a genius once. I’m just saying. Tracy has sold several television projects in both Canada and the U.S.

Reviews

[April O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of this book was much better than the execution.

[Alle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, american white feminist at its finest. The achievements of all those wonderful women are 5/5 stars, I'm glad I got to learn more about some of them. But the narrator? Misanthropic, unlikeable, trying to appear like a girlboss and empowering but instead coming across as an average white third wave feminist yelling about being just as oppressed as fellow women of past centuries. No, publishers don't refuse you i 2020s cuz you're a woman in possession of a vagina, they refuse you cuz your style is simply irksome.

[Anna Avian · Rating 1 out of 5]

A good idea with very poor execution. This book explores the achievements of many brilliant women, some of which quite unfamiliar, but the writing style was very shallow, careless and derisive.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories were interesting and well researched, but the weird tone made me question who the intended audience was. All the yass queening has a very limited lifespan. It gives off something similar to "youth pastor trying to bond with teens." But the weirdest part was implying that it's somehow misogynistic for modern historians to suggest that Joan of Arc suffered from mental illness. Tracy, the girl said she heard voices; I don't know what to tell you.

[Val · Rating 1 out of 5]

this wasn't done with enough care.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25. The idea of this book was great, but the execution of that idea was not that great. Also, the narrator of this audiobook was so annoying

[monika_is_booked · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Funny, smart, informative. One of the best books I read this year so far.

[DJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The idea behind this book has a lot of potential but the author’s writing makes it unbearable.

[Jocelyn Covert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of reviews here have been negative about the tone or humour of the book but I completely disagree. Maybe it's a Canadian sense of humour because I found it really familiar and I quite enjoyed it. It's a coping mechanism to deal with the deep rage.

I was digging this book from the beginning but then I hit this paragraph on page 10 and was ALL IN: "Look, here's the thing. I will never get over the 2016 election. If you are reading this in 2180 and I'm dead in the ground, I'm still not over it. And not because I'm obsessed with Hillary Clinton. It's not about Clinton - it's about me and it's about women. We all lived through the buffoon who's never read a book triumphing over the Beyond Capable Woman. ... But watching the Beyond Capable Woman lose does something to you. It burrows deep beneath your skin and settles there like a cancer. You may be accomplished, you may be qualified, but the message received since time immemorial is: No, not for you. Sorry, ladies. You may be exceptional but NOT. FOR. YOU. "

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

here's the thing- i am a firm believer you can write something funny while also working with grammar rules and not against them. many asides and parentheticals and all caps moments, i found it distracting. however when i got the audiobook for it, that made it more stomachable.

BUT LET ME SAY THIS: this is an amazing book as a jumping-off point for learning about different legendary women throughout history. this book inspired me to pick up more specific nonfiction books about these women. like i thought mary read was only a character in assassins creed 4 i didnt know she was real!!! or maybe im just a nerd, alas, i had fun!

[Ben Bergonzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever a history book wore its research lightly, this is it. Funny and profane, this book by a Canadian comic actor and writer provides a survey of women who, without questioning their own gender identies, have dressed as men. The story does not run in chronological order but moves around between the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut to Maria Toorpakai, the Afghan squash player born in 1990. Along the way we meet Joan of Arc, the conquistadore Catalina de Erauso, the 18th century British soldier Hannah Snell and many more. I enjoyed the concise and lively opinions Dawson justifies from her research - for example Sigmund Freud's researches into the mind only served to buttress sexist orthodoxy ('Freud may be the grandfather of psychotherapy but he was also the person who popularised, or even invented the idea that "women want it"'). I was particularly struck by the section on anonymous or pseudonymous female authors (the Brontes, Austen, Mary Shelley as well George Eliot and George Sand) and the comment that during the 18th century most English novels were written by women. As I look around me at the novelists of today, I cannot help thinking 'plus ca change.' The book is very well-produced and accompanied by excellent illustrations from Tina Berning. My only question is why, having Hannah Snell and indeed Cathay Williams who fought for the US Army in the Civil War, there is no Deborah Sampson, who fought in the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. With that caveat, I can unhesitatingly recommend this enjoyable book.

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

In concept, I wanted to like this book - loads of stories about interesting women who were trailblazers in both good ways and bad. But I found Dawson's little "you go girl" notes to be so distracting/annoying, and Hoffman's accents/voices to be so off-putting, that I was not able to enjoy this. My sister called it "very yassified girlboss ish", and I honestly don't think I could come up with a better descriptor. The only reason I finished it was because it was so short - I would've preferred fewer sassy little quips, and more letting the accomplishments speak for themselves.

[Big Gay Energy Podcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let Me Be Frank is the perfect mixture of history and humor that brings to light some extraordinary women that never received the recognition they deserved. It's the type of material that transcends time and highlights the uniquely human desire to defy arbitrary societal norms in the pursuit dreams or simply break barriers just to survive oppressive circumstances. After finishing Let Me Be Frank, I was left with a restored faith in the power of female ambition.

[Nichola Wallace · Rating 1 out of 5]

I must say that I agree with many of the reviewers who didn't like the style of writing or the way it was read in audio. It came across as condescending and snarky. I was really interested in the stories but finally got sick of the author's many interjections which were so unnecessary. Needless to say I didn't finish it.

[Selena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me be frank, I couldn't read this book, literally. The grey font on white background made it quite difficult to read, and even if I could have, the very casual writing style put me off. Which is a shame, since many of the women seemed quite interesting.

[Bri Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, short stories about incredible women throughout history. The writing is witty and engaging!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not safe for kids, unless they are in highschool, at least.
The snark, sarcasm and swearing had me laughing out loud.

Great information told in an entertaining way.

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

personally loved all the authors comments throughout the stories and the way they were summarized. they all had enough to educate you and make you curious enough to research more.

[Lio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so: it's not bad. It's easy and digestible, a fun, educational book you could pick up and put down during your lunch break, that sort of thing. It's a good baseline to learn about some less-recognized feminists throughout history.

It just... doesn't go particularly deep, despite the unrelenting comments from the author on almost every aspect of each inclusion. I also think the organization of the women included is a bit of a mess.

Furthermore, I'm a bit disappointed with how certain cases were handled. I read & understand the author's introduction and her reasoning as to why she's not assuming or pushing queerness upon the people she's chosen to include. However, since she makes her opinions on other matters known frequently, and shares her speculations on other aspects of the subjects' lives freely... it rubs me the wrong way to avoid the topic of queerness and gender identity altogether. In certain cases, it feels like a missed opportunity.

I also think this book might do better as a teen/young adult nonfiction, rather than an adult nonfiction, due to the author's very informal approach—but that's neither a praise nor critique, simply a classification observation.

Edit to add: the art is simple, but stylish and enjoyable.

[Ken Yuen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The retelling of the stories of many women from history who've had to dress as men for one reason or another. The author writes in a casual way that feels very conversational and unfiltered. Sometimes the tone is very justifiably angry

[Nanci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about some women from the past that I did not know before reading this book. What strong, courageous women who beat the system. Many reviewers complain about the author, Tracy Dawson's style of writing. I actually found her to be funny and it made the serious material more interesting and readable. This book is not a boring non-fiction. Her humor is on the caustic side, and she is sarcastic, but I found it made issues the women were having more relevant.

[Olivia Land · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible women of history told from a 21st century lens

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for the stories, 1 star for authorial style

I will never not be on board to read about Kathrine Switzer.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

was very informative but i just didnt vibe with the authors humor at all

[Sansan Gilbreath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the best book I’ve read all year . It’s funny . It’s sincere and like the tv show Drunk History they’ve both taught me more history than I ever learned in school .

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read. A little cringe at times bit overall informative.

[kendall · Rating 2 out of 5]

i agree that the idea of this was better than the execution…..i enjoyed all the stories which is why i finished it but the commentary was way too white feminist girlboss for me

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. I listened to the audiobook just for something easy and fun and was pleased with the relative minimum of annoying fake voices/accents used. Slightly more annoying were all the references to the ~queerness~ of historical women who are presumably rolling in their graves wishing they could come back to life and clock the author for referring to them by a slur. But whatever, I guess.

This is not remotely an academic piece of work, so if that’s what you’re wanting don’t waste your time. It is a fun little survey of some of the women throughout history who have used male disguises as a means to an end. It was a very easy read, a good jumping-off point to identify women to learn more about, and overall a fun way to spend a few hours.

I could’ve done without some of the “obligatory” woke asides, and I didn’t find all of the constant little jokes and comments to add that much. It’s very similar to the tone and level of detail of “Bad Girls Throughout History,” which was also about a 3.5 for me, so do with that information what you will

[catloaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

while i didn’t mind the conversational tone — it made the book a lot less intimidating as a person who struggles to finish reading non-fiction — i do think some of the personal interjections were a bit distracting. i can see why LET ME BE FRANK is polarizing in that respect, especially for those who were expecting something more impartial and serious in tone. the illustrations are gorgeous though and i do feel like i learned a lot! though some sections were less interesting than others, sections that i particularly liked include the ones about:

- ellen craft - mixed race slave who posed as a white man to escape to freedom with her husband
- christian caddell - witch pricker
- tarpé mills - writer & artist of first female superhero miss fury
- katherine switzer - first woman to run in the boston marathon while officially registered
- anne bonny and mary read - cross dressing pirates who met up on the same ship and coincidentally had a lot of parallels in their lives despite growing up unrelated to each other

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent read! Inspiring and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed all of this book & the narration had me laughing out loud multiple times. Well done, Tracy Dawson. My only correction would be in the Cathay Williams chapter. Dawson states that Williams was “the only documented Black woman to serve in the United States Army in the nineteenth century,” but is it also well documented that Harriet Tubman also served in the US Army in 1863. However that oversight does not detract from the book or it’s inspirational message. I thoroughly disagree with the negative reviews posted here about Dawson’s execution of the narrative. I think she completely hits the mark. This book truly “celebrates the creativity and depth of ingenuity” of women and “shows that female will…knows no boundaries.”