The Verso Book of Feminism: Revolutionary Words from Four Millennia of Rebellion

by Jessie Kindig (Editor)

An unprecedented collection of feminist voices from four millennia of global history

Throughout written history and across the world, women have protested the restrictions of gender and the limitations placed on women's bodies and women's lives. People–of any and no gender–have protested and theorized, penned manifestos and written poetry and songs, testified and lobbied, gone on strike and fomented revolution, quietly demanded that there is an "I" and loudly proclaimed that there is a "we." The Book of Feminism chronicles this history of defiance and tracks it around the world as it develops into a multivocal and unabashed force.

Global in scope, The Book of Feminism shows the breadth of feminist protest and of feminist thinking, moving through the female poets of China's Tang Dynasty and accounts of indigenous women in the Caribbean resisting Columbus's expedition, British suffragists militating for the vote and the revolutionary petroleuses of the 1848 Paris Commune, the first century Trung sisters who fought for the independence of Nam Viet to women in 1980s Botswana fighting for equal protection under the law, from the erotica of the 6th century and the 19th century to radical queer politics in the 20th and 21st.

The Book of Feminism is a weapon, a force, a lyrical cry, and an ongoing threat to misogyny everywhere.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Politics, History, Theory, Essays, Gender

396 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2020

Reviews

[ainsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.95 stars.

This book is perfectly one of a kind. I am thoroughly convinced that it is impossible for any other book or writer to replicate exactly how this book made me feel while I was reading it. There is not a single book on earth currently that made me feel the way that this book did; proud, exhilarated, angry, fierce, both great and small at the same time. Here's the thing though- I'm not asking for another book to make me feel this way, because this one is more than enough.

This book is 300-some pages of pure whoop-ass. It follows feminist writing from ancient times to last year, collecting prose, poetry, essay excerpts, manifestos, pamphlets and zines, all manner of written word proclaiming anti-misogyny, anti-racism, anti-classism and anti-homophobia and transphobia loudly. The writing is well-curated, poignant and cohesive, and the writers are diverse in all manner of ways. Women and femme-aligned people of different races, classes, sexualities, countries and educations come together to argue for one thing- equality, and it is absolutely exceptional. There is a clear focus on women of colour, which I greatly respect and appreciate as well. I love that all written mediums are included- not just classical written mediums like essay and prose, but poetry, zines, verdicts, slogans, speeches and songs as well. My one complaint is that it does get a little long- it does cover literally four millennia, but some inclusions felt meaningless to the overall argument of the book, and could be cut with little to no negative effect. If you are a feminist, you have to read this.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introductory/reference text. You can browse through it to find a specific author or idea to do a deeper study of. It does an excellent job of demonstrating how feminism develops regionally and over time. The short selections and author descriptions are also a great resource for the classroom.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could be a great primer/introduction to different types of feminism for someone. However, for those of us who are more well read, this is a book of bite sized excerpts from longer works (most the time). The second half of the 90s to 2020 is kind of sparse. That era could also be more diverse, as there's an overall lack of trans women.

[Sarah Parkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like a book I can dip in and out of from time to time for a bit of inspiration or distraction. Feminism is great, folks.

[brisingr · Rating 5 out of 5]

For everyone who needs an easy and smooth introduction in the history of feminism (and for an intersectional and global view of it), then this is the absolute perfect book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the passages picked for this volume - and the explanations were extremely helpful and enlightening. It features authors of various gender identities, from many parts of the world, and it offers a really comprehensive view of feminist thought and actions.

I think it's also very touching to see for how long people have fought for equality, for how long women have used their voices to speak their truth. Maybe we won't reach their envisioned futures, but I'll be happy if we get even a bit closer during my lifetime.

(Also, if you are or want to get into radical readings, then Verso Books is the best place to find your next book for that, and I say that just as a very big fan of the publishing house and nothing else)

[Katya Petrikevich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect much from this book as I knew it would be a collection of short quotes and excerpts written by women and/or about women. So, I did not expect to read it cover to cover but rather to skim through it... But I loved it!

The book takes you on a journey through human history and all across the world to show you the jewels of women's history. The book made me gasp with excitement and dig through articles and other books to read and learn more about women and stories I've never heard about and would never hear otherwise.

It's not hard on details and historic information, so it's not a heavy read but rather a map to guide you through centuries of herstory and to help you build the knowledge base that would let you fight off anyone who'd ever dare tell you that women's contribution is non-existent or insignificant.

All in all, a great book to have on your shelf even if fo reading just a few pages once in a while. I can also imagine it being a great present to my badass feminist friends!

[Uros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the other reviews on here saying this is one of the best intro book to feminism prompted me to read this one. Even though I've read a few books on the subject before this one.

It goes through different epochs of history and different civilizations and fills in the blanks of women's experience which are obviously neglected.

It's full of really interesting tid bits. Highly recommend.

[dogunderwater · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is probably on me, but I kind of expect this book to actually contain like...texts, rather than essentially inspirational quotes (and some slightly longer excerpts) from speeches, essays, poems, etc., mostly written by women. Like, a kind of neat coffee table thing to flip thru but not a particularly good primer unless you have the time to be like, 'ah I'll go dig up the whole piece,' every time you like a one sentence quote.

[Fin Quinlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great coffee table book. Easy to pick up and read short extracts.

[Liv Rutherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every feminist should have this on their bookshelf, no exceptions.

[Sofia Tibaduiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great bedside table book!

[Mandi Fast · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Deeds not words.”

I really enjoyed this read, especially the early sections of feminist literature mentioned. So many inspiring people to study. I love history! I love women!

[Tonje · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read is an ARC from Edelweiss, and I still find these types of arcs hard to read, so I skimmed it. It's a collection of quotes about women, real and fictional, throughout the centuries, with little paragraphs giving context. Interesting, but not really something you read all the way through. It's more of a dip and skim and go huh at. Good gift book I suspect. It has an international scope, which I appreciate, and the last quotes are from 2019.

[Madeleine Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful compilation of work. I will return to this many times, I’m sure.

[Paige Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an important book to read in order to forge common humanity.