Best History Books by Women (2026): 5 Picks Compared

History looks different when women tell it. These are the best history books by women, most written by women and all centering women’s lives, from ancient goddess worship to Civil War abolitionists. We compared five books on scope, length and stated recognition, using only what each listing publishes.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Agitators	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Who Cooked the Last Supper	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	When God Was a Woman	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Women In War	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	A Woman of No Importance by Purnell	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The Agitators

Dorothy Wickenden·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Dorothy Wickenden's history of Harriet Tubman, Frances Seward and Martha Wright, 416 pages.

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Pros

• Named a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year
• 416 pages, the longest here
• Draws on letters and exhaustive research

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• Focuses on three women, not a broad survey
• Reprint edition, not the original

2

Who Cooked the Last Supper

Rosalind Miles·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Rosalind Miles's witty women's history of the world, 352 pages.

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Pros

• Spans world history, broadest scope here
• 352 pages with a wealth of research
• Witty, accessible style per the listing

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• 2001 edition, older than the others
• Breadth means less depth per era

3

When God Was a Woman

Merlin Stone·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Merlin Stone's exploration of ancient goddess worship, 302 pages.

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Pros

• Landmark take on goddess worship
• 302 pages on the ancient Near and Middle East
• Thought-provoking on gender roles

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• 1978 edition, the oldest here
• Narrow ancient focus, not modern history

4

Women In War

David A. Yuzuk·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

David A. Yuzuk's collection of true stories of women warriors, 252 pages.

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Pros

• Over twenty true accounts per the listing
• 252 pages, the shortest here
• Spans ancient battlefields to modern wars

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• By a man, not by a woman
• Military focus, not general history

5

A Woman of No Importance by Purnell

Sonia Purnell·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A biography of Virginia Hall, an American who worked behind enemy lines in France in World War II.

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Pros

• A focused life story, with the French Resistance at its center
• 368 pages in one volume, a clear length for a single biography
• The listing gives Penguin Books and a March 24, 2020 date

Cons

• The description mentions a bounty on Virginia Hall and wartime danger
• Centered on one life, so readers wanting the full war need more books
• The listing says Reprint, so match its date and publisher to your copy

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More picks to compare

• 100 Women Who Shaped the World100 concise biographies, 445 pagesCheck on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details are as published, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs content, readability, value, safety and warranty. Books score zero on safety and warranty; none state a term. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best history books by women

Pick your era

The Agitators covers the Civil War era through three women’s lives; When God Was a Woman reaches back to ancient goddess worship; Who Cooked the Last Supper spans world history. Match the book to the period you want.

Check the length

Lengths here run from 252 to 416 pages. The Agitators at 416 pages is the longest; Women In War at 252 pages is the shortest. See best books for world history for broader lists.

Before you buy

• Check the edition: The Agitators lists a Reprint edition, and Who Cooked the Last Supper lists a Three Rivers Press edition.
• Compare the page count with your reading time: 252 to 416 pages across these five.
• Women In War is by David A. Yuzuk; the other four are by women.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which history books by women should I start with?

The Agitators follows three women through abolition and women’s rights; Who Cooked the Last Supper gives a witty world history. Both are strong starting points.

Are these books suitable for students?

The listings do not state a reading age. The Agitators draws on letters and research; check the description for themes before assigning.

Do any cover ancient history?

When God Was a Woman covers ancient goddess worship in the Near and Middle East, from the 1978 edition.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Agitators

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Related lists

See every history and biography list and all reading guides.

More lists: world history, women’s history month and history and biography.