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A Woman's World, 1850–1960
The third volume in the bestselling The Colour of Time series.
A Woman's World, 1850–1960 explores the many roles – domestic, social, cultural and professional – played by women across the world before second-wave feminism took hold. Using Marina Amaral's colourized images and Dan Jones's words, this survey features women both celebrated and ordinary, whether in the science lab or protesting on the streets, performing on stage or fighting in the trenches, running for election or exploring the wild. This vivid and unique history brings to life and full colour the female experience in a century of extraordinary change.
Photographs include: Queen Victoria, Edith Cavell, Josephine Baker, Eva Peron, Virginia Woolf, Clara Schumann, Martha Gellhorn, Rosa Parks, Agatha Christie, Frida Kahlo, Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightingale, Hattie McDaniel and Gertrude Bell; as well as revolutionaries from China to Cuba, Geishas in Japan, protestors on the Salt March, teachers and pilots, nurses and soldiers.
A Woman's World, 1850–1960 explores the many roles – domestic, social, cultural and professional – played by women across the world before second-wave feminism took hold. Using Marina Amaral's colourized images and Dan Jones's words, this survey features women both celebrated and ordinary, whether in the science lab or protesting on the streets, performing on stage or fighting in the trenches, running for election or exploring the wild. This vivid and unique history brings to life and full colour the female experience in a century of extraordinary change.
Photographs include: Queen Victoria, Edith Cavell, Josephine Baker, Eva Peron, Virginia Woolf, Clara Schumann, Martha Gellhorn, Rosa Parks, Agatha Christie, Frida Kahlo, Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightingale, Hattie McDaniel and Gertrude Bell; as well as revolutionaries from China to Cuba, Geishas in Japan, protestors on the Salt March, teachers and pilots, nurses and soldiers.
432 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2022
About the author
Dan Jones
84 books6,002 followersDan Jones is a NYT bestselling author and broadcaster. His books, which include The Templars, Henry V, The Plantagenets and Powers & Thrones, have sold more than 2 million copies and are published in 23 languages. He is the author of the Essex Dogs novel trilogy. Dan writes and hosts the popular weekly Sony Music Entertainment podcast This Is History. He has presented dozens of television documentaries, including the popular Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles, and has executive produced and consulted on a number of films and television shows including Anne Boleyn (Channel 5/Sony Pictures Television) and Knightfall (A+E/History). His journalism has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post; for a decade he was a columnist for the London Evening Standard. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and in 2025 was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Historic Royal Palaces.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 5, 2022
‘Welcome to A Woman’s World.’
This is the third book in a series, a collaboration between historian Dan Jones and Marina Amaral, a digital colourist who specializes in adding colour to black and white photographs: ‘breathing life into the past’.
While I have not yet read the other two books in this series, I was intrigued to find out which women would be included. There are eleven headings used, covering the cultural, domestic, professional and social roles played by women:
Women at Play
Women in School
Women at the Wheel
Women at War
Women in Charge
Women in the Arts
Women in the Streets
Women on Stage
Women in the Wild
Women on the Shop floor
Women in White Coats.
I was delighted to see Fanny Cochrane Smith’s inclusion. In 1899 and 1903 she recorded songs on wax cylinders: held in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, these are the only recordings ever made of Tasmanian Aboriginal song and speech.
While I recognised the names of many of the women and their stories, there were other women I had not heard of. The women covered include: Margaret Mead, Eva Peron, Virginia Woolf, Marie Curie, Anna J Cooper, Dr Hü King Eng , Agnes Maitland, Edith Cavell, Martha Gellhorn, Rosa Parks, Sunity Devee, Frida Kahlo and Gertrude Bell.
‘We give you this compilation in the spirit that we first imagined it: as a bright and colourful journey through a great historical age, in the company of some of the most brilliant people who lived in it!’
An interesting look at the contribution of women across many different fields before second-wave feminism.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for
review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This is the third book in a series, a collaboration between historian Dan Jones and Marina Amaral, a digital colourist who specializes in adding colour to black and white photographs: ‘breathing life into the past’.
While I have not yet read the other two books in this series, I was intrigued to find out which women would be included. There are eleven headings used, covering the cultural, domestic, professional and social roles played by women:
Women at Play
Women in School
Women at the Wheel
Women at War
Women in Charge
Women in the Arts
Women in the Streets
Women on Stage
Women in the Wild
Women on the Shop floor
Women in White Coats.
I was delighted to see Fanny Cochrane Smith’s inclusion. In 1899 and 1903 she recorded songs on wax cylinders: held in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, these are the only recordings ever made of Tasmanian Aboriginal song and speech.
While I recognised the names of many of the women and their stories, there were other women I had not heard of. The women covered include: Margaret Mead, Eva Peron, Virginia Woolf, Marie Curie, Anna J Cooper, Dr Hü King Eng , Agnes Maitland, Edith Cavell, Martha Gellhorn, Rosa Parks, Sunity Devee, Frida Kahlo and Gertrude Bell.
‘We give you this compilation in the spirit that we first imagined it: as a bright and colourful journey through a great historical age, in the company of some of the most brilliant people who lived in it!’
An interesting look at the contribution of women across many different fields before second-wave feminism.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for
review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
July 14, 2022
“A Woman’s World, 1850-1960” is the third volume in the bestselling ‘The Colour of Time’ series. Written by historian and broadcaster Dan Jones and features Marina Amaral's beautiful, colourized photographic images.
This huge and informative compilation of women, focuses on eleven areas of the roles they have played in history -
Women at Play
Women in School
Women at the Wheel
Women at War
Women in Charge
Women in the Arts
Women in the Streets
Women on Stage
Women in the Wild
Women on the Shop Floor
Women in White Coats
This is quite a book to behold. Perfect for dipping into when you take a fancy and you certainly learn some very interesting facts about women who played an important part in history. Whether celebrated or not, these women across a varied selection of roles are all worthy of their mention. Told through women’s pictures, lives and experiences, they serve as a tribute/tableau of admirable and brilliant females, all unique and remarkable.
I was particularly interested in ‘Women at War’, roles mostly familiar as being filled by men. But without the aid of women, the wars would not have been won by either side and the bravery and dedication shown, deserves high praise. The photograph of the ‘munitions factory’ was amazing and quite took my breath away.
Colourful, interesting, informative and easy to read, this wonderful collection of impressive lives lived would adorn any coffee table or reference section in educational institutions and is a must for all school libraries!
#AWomansWorld - 5 stars
Thank you to LoveReading for my copy of the book in return for an honest opinion.
This huge and informative compilation of women, focuses on eleven areas of the roles they have played in history -
Women at Play
Women in School
Women at the Wheel
Women at War
Women in Charge
Women in the Arts
Women in the Streets
Women on Stage
Women in the Wild
Women on the Shop Floor
Women in White Coats
This is quite a book to behold. Perfect for dipping into when you take a fancy and you certainly learn some very interesting facts about women who played an important part in history. Whether celebrated or not, these women across a varied selection of roles are all worthy of their mention. Told through women’s pictures, lives and experiences, they serve as a tribute/tableau of admirable and brilliant females, all unique and remarkable.
I was particularly interested in ‘Women at War’, roles mostly familiar as being filled by men. But without the aid of women, the wars would not have been won by either side and the bravery and dedication shown, deserves high praise. The photograph of the ‘munitions factory’ was amazing and quite took my breath away.
Colourful, interesting, informative and easy to read, this wonderful collection of impressive lives lived would adorn any coffee table or reference section in educational institutions and is a must for all school libraries!
#AWomansWorld - 5 stars
Thank you to LoveReading for my copy of the book in return for an honest opinion.
July 7, 2022
A fascinating read that spans a century celebrating the inspiring and ground-breaking achievements of women in the worlds of sports, arts, science, politics, fashion, etc.
It is an important historical compilation that contains beautifully colour-restored versions of the original black and white photographs. It would grace any bookshelf (or coffee table).
I loved the quote by Martha Gellhorn (wife of Ernest Hemingway): “Why should I merely be a footnote in his life?”
My thoughts? The world would be a poorer place had the women featured here reverted to stereotype.
Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for granting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It is an important historical compilation that contains beautifully colour-restored versions of the original black and white photographs. It would grace any bookshelf (or coffee table).
I loved the quote by Martha Gellhorn (wife of Ernest Hemingway): “Why should I merely be a footnote in his life?”
My thoughts? The world would be a poorer place had the women featured here reverted to stereotype.
Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for granting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2023
This is a wonderful, good, old-fashioned picture book with stories. Marina Amaral takes old black & white photos, then masterfully colorizes them. Dan Jones writes the stories. Seeing all these many historical figures in color really brings them alive for me.
This book showcases some of the world’s most amazing women from 1860 to 1960. It’s a great book if you’re looking for short stories that can be read in just a few minutes. I learned a lot and it was fascinating to see the color images of so many of the famous women I’ve read about.
This book showcases some of the world’s most amazing women from 1860 to 1960. It’s a great book if you’re looking for short stories that can be read in just a few minutes. I learned a lot and it was fascinating to see the color images of so many of the famous women I’ve read about.
December 14, 2025
Completely fascinating.
January 12, 2023
This book was very interesting! I love how it broke down into categories of women who were influential in different areas. I do wonder how they chose women to feature, many of them were American or European women, but not all of them did something objectively “good”. I did also find it interesting seeing how even incredibly influential people in one area could be very not so great in others, like us all. Crazy
July 16, 2022
An amazing, informative, and visually stunning book that I loved and made me learn something new about women's roles in the past.
Well known and anonymous women, great pictures and interesting text.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Well known and anonymous women, great pictures and interesting text.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 26, 2022
My thanks to Head of Zeus Apollo for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘A Woman's World, 1850–1960’ by Dan Jones and Marina Amaral.
This is the third volume in The Colour of Time series containing historical photographs colourised by Marina Amarai, accompanied by mini biographies and connecting material by historian Dan Jones.
As the Introduction states: “This book recounts a history of humanity between 1850 and 1960, told through women’s pictures, lives and experiences. It is designed to serve as a tribute, a tableau, and, in its way, an example. It is a both a conventional history – arranged chronologically and thematically, with an eye for events and important individuals – and a radical one.”
It is divided into eleven sections; each dedicated to a particular theme followed by an Appendix, with the 200 thumbnails images contained in the book in black and white, and finally an index.
Overall, I found this an inspiring celebration of the myriad contributions made by women during this important period of history. It is the kind of book that would make an excellent gift and one that I would also hope to find stocked in public and school libraries.
Highly recommended.
This is the third volume in The Colour of Time series containing historical photographs colourised by Marina Amarai, accompanied by mini biographies and connecting material by historian Dan Jones.
As the Introduction states: “This book recounts a history of humanity between 1850 and 1960, told through women’s pictures, lives and experiences. It is designed to serve as a tribute, a tableau, and, in its way, an example. It is a both a conventional history – arranged chronologically and thematically, with an eye for events and important individuals – and a radical one.”
It is divided into eleven sections; each dedicated to a particular theme followed by an Appendix, with the 200 thumbnails images contained in the book in black and white, and finally an index.
Overall, I found this an inspiring celebration of the myriad contributions made by women during this important period of history. It is the kind of book that would make an excellent gift and one that I would also hope to find stocked in public and school libraries.
Highly recommended.
August 21, 2022
A real piece of history. This book contains a diverse collection of photographs of women across a time span of a hundred years, from Victorians to the Swinging Sixties. These are intimate portraits of actual women, haunting in a lot of cases, brought to life by clever colouring by photographer Marina Amaral. This is the third book in a series utilising photographs from history.
The book attempts to capture the women in all aspects of life from leaders, scientists and innovators, to rights activists and the ordinary women who served in armies and as 'clippies' on the buses. The pictures and accompanying mini biographies are arranged thematically, so there are eleven categories as opposed to a timeline showing how much women's lives developed over the hundred years.
It is a book to dip into as a general guide to the for women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Very accessible, enjoyable and easy to read, but it is the photographs that really make this book. If a picture inspires someone to read a full biography, then so much the better. Fascinating stuff.
The book attempts to capture the women in all aspects of life from leaders, scientists and innovators, to rights activists and the ordinary women who served in armies and as 'clippies' on the buses. The pictures and accompanying mini biographies are arranged thematically, so there are eleven categories as opposed to a timeline showing how much women's lives developed over the hundred years.
It is a book to dip into as a general guide to the for women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Very accessible, enjoyable and easy to read, but it is the photographs that really make this book. If a picture inspires someone to read a full biography, then so much the better. Fascinating stuff.
April 18, 2025
"A Woman's World 1850-1960" is an insightful exploration of the evolving roles and experiences of women during a significant period in history. The book delves into various aspects of women's lives, including social, political, and economic changes, highlighting the struggles and triumphs they faced. It effectively captures the diverse voices of women from different backgrounds, showcasing their contributions to society and the fight for rights and equality. The narrative is well-researched and engaging, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in women's history. Overall, it's an enlightening read that sheds light on the challenges and progress women made during these transformative years.
February 6, 2023
I love looking at the photos, the amazing colorized photos, in Amaral and Jones' books.
However, I take exception to having Dan Jones listed first as the author.
His commentary is important and interesting, yes, but the title is A WOMAN"S WORLD.
Why wasn't Marina Amaral's name listed first?
Great to share with all children, but especially girls.
https://www.michelleule.com/2021/02/0...
However, I take exception to having Dan Jones listed first as the author.
His commentary is important and interesting, yes, but the title is A WOMAN"S WORLD.
Why wasn't Marina Amaral's name listed first?
Great to share with all children, but especially girls.
https://www.michelleule.com/2021/02/0...
July 11, 2022
A Woman’s World 1850-1960 is an amazing archive of women whose contributions to women’s rights, science, engineering, health and society has been largely overlooked for too long. The book contained the well-known as well as a lot that I had no idea about, all with accompanying coloured photographs. It was a joy and a privilege to read about these intelligent and enterprising people.
June 2, 2022
A Women's World , 1850-1960 by Dan Jones & Marina Amaral
A absolute must read , a copy should be in every library, and education establishment.
It was very interesting to educate myself on the great women this book introduces us to, many I had not heard about before.
5 stars.
A absolute must read , a copy should be in every library, and education establishment.
It was very interesting to educate myself on the great women this book introduces us to, many I had not heard about before.
5 stars.
August 2, 2022
Thanks to the publishers for advanced copy of this book. Enjoyed reading about many women I had not heard of and inspired to find out more.
December 17, 2022
Fascinating. Colourised photos, with brief biographies, of famous, infamous, and little known women. From this I learnt that Marie Curie's granddaughter, Irene's daughter, is also a physicist!
August 6, 2022
I picked this as I’ve enjoyed a couple of Dan Jones’s other books, Powers and Thrones (a history of the Middle Ages) and Crusaders. I’d not heard of Marina Amaral before but now I really want to look at some of her work colourising old photographs. Each themed chapter contains short biographies of interesting and often largely forgotten women. It’s therefore perfect for dipping in and out of if you have a short time available to read. It provides a glimpse of a wide range of people but that doesn’t always allow room for all the interesting things they’ve done.
The subjects are a good mix of the very well known and those who should be, among them prolific inventor Lilian Gilbreth, the ridiculously resourceful and unflappable Betha Benz, and Taytu Betul, empress of Ethopia. I was struck by tales of the versatility and intrepidity of some of them. I didn’t know, for example, that Josephine Baker spied for the Allies in the Second World War or that Martha Gellhorn landed in Normandy on D-Day. I particularly enjoyed reading that Helen Rubenstein sold her business to Lehman Brothers but bought it back after the Wall Street Crash for just 20 percent of what she had received. Nice work.
A Woman’s World is a little US- and Europe-heavy but I guess that’s partly down to surviving photos. While the Kindle edition has clear enough images to make it a reasonable option, this is definitely a book that would be better read in hard copy, to take advantage of the colourised photographs that are an integral feature of this series.
I received a free proof copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The subjects are a good mix of the very well known and those who should be, among them prolific inventor Lilian Gilbreth, the ridiculously resourceful and unflappable Betha Benz, and Taytu Betul, empress of Ethopia. I was struck by tales of the versatility and intrepidity of some of them. I didn’t know, for example, that Josephine Baker spied for the Allies in the Second World War or that Martha Gellhorn landed in Normandy on D-Day. I particularly enjoyed reading that Helen Rubenstein sold her business to Lehman Brothers but bought it back after the Wall Street Crash for just 20 percent of what she had received. Nice work.
A Woman’s World is a little US- and Europe-heavy but I guess that’s partly down to surviving photos. While the Kindle edition has clear enough images to make it a reasonable option, this is definitely a book that would be better read in hard copy, to take advantage of the colourised photographs that are an integral feature of this series.
I received a free proof copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
August 11, 2022
This was a brilliant book. I really couldn't put this book down. I just love the pictures which had been changed from black and white to full colours it really brought the pictures to life. It created such an amazing reading experience. Each picture had an explanation of the Woman's significance in history. It was brilliant and so insightful that I learnt so much from reading it. There were so many significant women of the world many of which I had never heard of. I was just so engrossed in this book that I lost track of time and I was so gutted when it ended. The layout was just fantastic with the ladies being put into sections based on there roles. This is certainly a must read book for a history fans. I even think this book should be taught in high school as many women were emitted from history. I really can't recommend this book enough it was that amazing. This book would also look great in any home design, or coffee table book for friends and family to look through. This book could easily be read in bite size chunks that you can go back to time and time again. This book just flowed so well from section to section. I must mentionhow cool the cover is and the index is actuallyin little pictures aswell so you can see them all easier. I actually have everything crossed that they make this book into a series.
Only the highest of praise goes out to the authors and publishing team for creating such a sensational book that everyone should read. I can't wait tobread more books by this pair.
Only the highest of praise goes out to the authors and publishing team for creating such a sensational book that everyone should read. I can't wait tobread more books by this pair.
March 29, 2023
I’ve said “Wow!” out loud a lot of times while reading this book. There are many inspirational women featured who I’ve never heard of, and I am an information addict! My little granddaughter is really keen on the Little People Big Dreams series, and told me they’re her favourite kind of books, so I will definitely be buying her a copy of this book once she’s a few years older, and I would highly recommend it as a present for young people. I think it would be a brilliant source book too for youth groups who could perhaps take the idea up as a project and research even more outstanding women in their community, both past and present.
As I’m always reading so much plain text, I find this format – a photograph or painting accompanied by well-written, interesting information – a very pleasant ‘side dish’! The photographs here have been superbly colourised by artist Marina Amaral. Peter Jackson’s film They Shall Not Grow Old showed how powerful this method can be in making historical figures more accessible to modern audiences.
A few examples of the women featured:
Anna J Cooper, author of A Voice from the South
Clarenore Stinnes, racing driver
Captain Mary Parker Converse, naval officer
Anita Garibaldi, revolutionary
Ellen La Motte, nurse and writer
Irene Joliot Curie, scientist
As I’m always reading so much plain text, I find this format – a photograph or painting accompanied by well-written, interesting information – a very pleasant ‘side dish’! The photographs here have been superbly colourised by artist Marina Amaral. Peter Jackson’s film They Shall Not Grow Old showed how powerful this method can be in making historical figures more accessible to modern audiences.
A few examples of the women featured:
Anna J Cooper, author of A Voice from the South
Clarenore Stinnes, racing driver
Captain Mary Parker Converse, naval officer
Anita Garibaldi, revolutionary
Ellen La Motte, nurse and writer
Irene Joliot Curie, scientist
January 28, 2025
With thanks to the author, publishers Head of Zeus, and NetGalley for providing me with a DRC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is a very informative book chronicling the achievements of women in various fields and endeavours in the years 1850-1960, and highlighting some of the restrictions and prejudices faced by these women in that time.
For each woman there is a short bio with a supporting picture, with those covering the earlier time period have been beautifully enhanced in colour.
This is probably not a book that someone will read from cover to cover, but rather will dip in and out of as time allows. The organisation of the women and their achievements into thematic chapters such as Women at Play, Women at School etc. also helps in this regard.
This is a very informative book chronicling the achievements of women in various fields and endeavours in the years 1850-1960, and highlighting some of the restrictions and prejudices faced by these women in that time.
For each woman there is a short bio with a supporting picture, with those covering the earlier time period have been beautifully enhanced in colour.
This is probably not a book that someone will read from cover to cover, but rather will dip in and out of as time allows. The organisation of the women and their achievements into thematic chapters such as Women at Play, Women at School etc. also helps in this regard.
March 1, 2023
inspiring
Readers can either devour this book on one sitting as I did, or nibble at it a bit at a time, dipping in and out. Whatever way you read this book doesn’t matter so long as you READ IT!
Fascinating women in interesting times, great photos, and delivered in ‘bite sized chunks’ so you can encourage your daughters to read.
There is enough written on each woman to engage and inform, and yet little enough to make you seek out further reading.
Highly highly recommended.
Readers can either devour this book on one sitting as I did, or nibble at it a bit at a time, dipping in and out. Whatever way you read this book doesn’t matter so long as you READ IT!
Fascinating women in interesting times, great photos, and delivered in ‘bite sized chunks’ so you can encourage your daughters to read.
There is enough written on each woman to engage and inform, and yet little enough to make you seek out further reading.
Highly highly recommended.
April 7, 2023
This celebrates those souls who stood tall, broke moulds and just did things.
There are some shocking stories of typical misogyny and had this reader shaking her head with lots of tuts.
Wonderfully coloured photographs brings these ladies even more to life.
As my dear Dad used to say - Girls CAN do anything.
🏋️♀️👸🚺
There are some shocking stories of typical misogyny and had this reader shaking her head with lots of tuts.
Wonderfully coloured photographs brings these ladies even more to life.
As my dear Dad used to say - Girls CAN do anything.
🏋️♀️👸🚺
February 3, 2025
This is fascinating look into the 1850-1960 period our work history. It is more all the more compelling through the brilliant work of the artist Marina Amaral whose colourisation of original black and white photographs. As ever Dan Jones writing brings to life the short biographies of the women featured in the book.
November 25, 2022
With the colorizing of black and white photos Marina Amaral brings live into those pictures. In her third collaborative book she and Dan Jones tell the stories of many famous, infamous and unknown women of the first decades of photography.
Want to Read
August 4, 2022I learned of this book via this post: https://fromfirstpagetolast.com/2022/...
May 3, 2026
Amazing photographs and colourisation. A story of women of all walks of life. Could not put it down.
September 30, 2022
This is brilliant. Wonderful and brilliant colourised photos are supported by Dan Jones's biography of the person pictured.
February 5, 2023
One of the very very best books I have ever read! Just an incredible tapestry of feminism and forgotten faces! I’m so in awe of words and faces behind the pictures!
December 31, 2024
I just really fecking love women
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews