A History of Women in 101 Objects by Annabelle Hirsch

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Translated by Eleanor Updegraff. Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd. ISBN 978 1 80530 087 8

This was an amazing book in my view. The time frame starts in the 30,000BC up to 2022.

Firstly, there was quite a story about how I crossed paths with this book. I find that I very often head to the https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/ in Paris. The staff are amazing. My question to them is, can you recommend some books that are of interest to Women. They never fail to recommend such interesting subjects. What I love is that these are all young women that I speak too. They explain why they like the books or if they haven’t why one of their friends liked them. I am way older than these women and love their passion but also, they are so hungry to learn and exchange their love of what they do. It’s obvious there is such respect for the authors and subject matter.

On this occasion I received a very enthusiastic invitation to the book launch. This was pure heaven for me. Of course I was going to go. The launch was held upstairs in this historical bookshop. If you are coming to Paris, I highly recommend it.

The evening brought to life Ms Hirch’s journey in researching the objects but what was more interesting is the stories attached to them. It’s not all about the objects but the stories.

The 16th century glass Dildo, Thumbscrew, bidet, Remington typewriter, & Florence Nightingales Fanoos Lamp, not to forget the bikini and the mobile phone.  And then there is the safety Bicycle, in 1895 women’s rights activist Elizabeth Cady aged 80, is said to have stated “the most significant invention of the 19th contrary in terms of women’s emancipation was the bicycle”.

What really got my attention was “La Machine” an obstetric mannequin made by Madame Du Coudray, the head midwife at the Hopital Dieu, at the time of Louis XV. Next to Notre Dame Cathedral. Now this is a story for another time.

Notre Dame by the way is right next door to the wonderful Shakespeare & Company that I’ve mentioned