History That's More Than 2-Dimensional.

Morality: Mixed

Carolina Maria de Jesus (1914-1977)

The Mother Who Wrote Her Way Out Of Poverty

Brash, funny, and difficult, this mother of three wrote her way out of extreme poverty with her uncompromising look at Brazilian society - and was alternately lauded and berated for it.

Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007)

Mother of Pakistan

The exiled daughter of a deposed ruler, she could have been a fairytale bridge between worlds - but fairy tales are not real. Benazir, whose name means "without flaw," was anything but.

Arwa al-Sulayhi (c.1048-1131)

The Mother of Yemen's Golden Age

The greatest ruler of Yemeni history, she defeated her numerous foes to usher the country into its golden age.

Phoolan Devi (1963-2001)

The Bandit Queen Who Joined Parliament

This "untouchable" woman ended decades of abuse by starting a bandit gang and avenging the lower castes. After some time in prison, she got out, ran for parliament, and won.

Malinche (c.1496-1529)

The Maligned Mother of Mexico

Sold into sexual slavery to Hernan Cortes, this maligned woman became his interpreter, and it was with her words that the Aztec Empire fell.

Arawelo (c.15 CE)

Greatest - or Worst - Queen of Somalian History

Somalia’s ballsiest queen, she took power from men either figuratively or literally – by ordering much of the gender castrated. Hero or villain, depending on who’s doing the telling, she remains one of Africa’s most divisive figures.

Micaela Bastidas (1741-1781)

The Brains of the Tupac Amaru Rebellion

The strident partner of the eponymously-named Tupac Amaru Rebellion of native peoples against the Spanish, she handled army and bureaucratic logistics with an unmatched efficiency. Cut Content: Tupac Amaru’s Demands His demands were surprisingly minimal: he primarily wanted less enforced labor and a court closer to where he lived, so he wouldn’t have to trek... Read more »

Joan of Arc (1412-1431)

The Maid of Orleans

The infamous teen girl who helped end the Hundred Years War and save France – but do you know how she got to such prominence? This book has an answer, and it involves another powerful woman, operating behind the scenes…

Yoshiko Kawashima (1907-1947)

The Traitor Princess of Manchuria

Bisexual cross-dressing spy princess of the Qing dynasty – a hero to some and unspeakable villain to others.

Qiu Jin (1875-1907)

The Heroine Who Wrote Her Own Destiny

This revolutionary martyred herself to help rid China of the Qing dynasty.