A compelling selection of paintings, drawings, prints and photographs of women reading through the ages. Artists have long sought to capture the intimacy and tranquillity of reading in their work. There was a time, however, when female literacy was a radical idea, and women have certainly not always been free to read whatever they want, whether for pleasure or instruction. This highly acclaimed book presents a compelling selection of paintings, drawings, prints and photographs of women reading through the ages. Works by a diverse range of artists, from Vermeer, Manet and Whistler to Edward Hopper and photographer Eve Arnold, are accompanied by commentaries that explain the context in which each image was created. Also featuring a foreword by the novelist Karen Joy Fowler and an engaging introduction exploring reading as a female pursuit, Women Who Read Are Dangerous will appeal to book lovers everywhere.

A sequel to the best-selling Women Who Read Are Dangerous, presenting portraits and profiles of fearless women writers past and present Writing has not always been considered a suitable career for women. Indeed, it was once common for women authors to adopt a masculine pseudonym in order to be taken seriously. And even today, some women writers still struggle to obtain the same recognition that is given to their male counterparts. Nevertheless, women throughout the ages have overcome these obstacles to create literature of enduring importance. This attractive book brings together paintings, drawings, prints, and photographs of some fifty outstanding women authors, from Mary Wollstonecraft, Jane Austen, and George Sand to Dorothy Parker, Simone de Beauvoir, and Toni Morrison. Each image is accompanied by an engaging commentary on the writer depicted, discussing the highlights of her career and the major themes of her work. Full of insight and inspiration, this is the perfect gift for any woman who writes.