When we think of women of the past, we picture the powerful Cleopatras, or the intelligent Marie Curies, but what about the “normal” women? Gregory transforms our idea of femininity and historical women with this book. Everything from the author’s quirky writing style to the fun illustrations opened my eyes to the horrors, struggles and beauty of being a woman throughout history.
The book follows a series of events starting from the invasion of England in 1066 to the modern day, with insights into the extraordinary things women have been doing in their normal lives. Aspects like land ownership, love, religion and gender roles are explored in depth. What I love most about the author’s style is her ability to engage with the reader. She includes side notes with her personal opinion, which made me feel like I was having a one-on-one conversation with her, not just reading facts on a page. The language is colloquial and accessible, and graphs and illustrations create more engagement and make the book more aesthetically pleasing.
I wish this book had included more stories of women outside of England. While the later chapters introduce some international figures, I felt the book could have offered more diverse perspectives from the beginning. However, this is a minor issue.
Reading this book felt rewarding and allowed me to see beyond the typical perceptions of women from the past. It is definitely a must-read for teens interested in history, or want to start reading more nonfiction. Normal Women is an insightful, stunning, well-researched and informative historical nonfiction masterpiece that is well worth every second of reading time.
Dana Alnajdawi, 16
Normal Women – Making History for 900 Years
Philippa Gregory (illustrated by Alexis Snell)
Red Shed, 2025
Paperback, £10.99
ISBN: 9780008725075
