History That's More Than 2-Dimensional.

In Book: Web-Only

Vasilisa Vasilyevna (Russian Folktale)

The Gender-Nonconforming Heroine Who Kept the Tsar Guessing

When the Tsar became hellbent on nailing down her gender, this clever gender-nonconforming heroine kept him guessing to the end.

The Goddess Who Killed With Courtesy

When an oppressive regime threatened her home, this Samoan war goddess took matters into her own hands.

Janequeo (16th century)

The Rebel Spain Never Caught

When her husband was killed by conquistadors, this native Chilean showed the Spanish what "fight like a woman" really means.

Wungala (Indigenous Australian Myth)

The Mom Who Beat the Devil with Bread

When she came face-to-face with a great monster, this mother saved her child and herself through bravery, quick thinking, and great culinary skills.

Nitocris (22nd century BCE pseudohistory)

The 6th Dynasty's Worst Banquet Host

When her brother was killed, this pharaoh took her time cooking up revenge.

Isabella of France (c.1295-1358)

The She-Wolf of France

After years of neglect and abuse from her husband, this queen raised an army and took over England for herself.

Mary Anning (1799-1847)

The Princess of Paleontology

When her father died, leaving her lower-class family in debt, this indomitable woman worked tirelessly and became one of history's greatest fossil collectors.

Gouyen (c.1857-1903)

Wise Woman of the Apache

When an enemy killed her husband, this Apache woman broke the rules of her tribe to get revenge - and in so doing, became one of her tribe's greatest heroes.

Tirgatao (5th century BCE)

The Princess Whom Walls Could Not Hold

Abandoned and imprisoned, this real-life Amazon took back the life she had stolen away.

Lyudmila Pavlichenko (1916-1974)

The Deadliest Female Sniper in History

When her beloved college of history was bombed by the Germans, this woman began a dark path that would see her become history's deadliest female sniper -- and one of Eleanor Roosevelt's best friends.