Since we started this project, I’ve noticed more brilliant cranky ladies of history than I even have before! It seems like everything I read or watch references another awesome lady, and it’s fabulous. I recently flicked through a copy of The National Library of Australia Magazine, and was impressed to see the page space devoted to cranky ladies there! You can read the magazine free online, but here is a summary of the 19th century ladies examined in its pages:
Rose de Freycinet: in 1817, Rose cut her hair, dressed in men’s clothes and famously stowed away on the French naval ship Uranie to accompany her husband, Captain Louis de Freycinet, around the world.
Mary Gilmore: born in 1865, teacher, poet, journalist and activist Mary Gilmore approached life with a keen sense of social justice. She was the first woman member and executive member of the Australian Workers’ Union, and certainly did not conform to the usual standards of the time, moving for a time to a utopian community in Paraguay, where she married. A contemporary and close friend of Henry Lawson, Mary continued to work after the birth of her son, and wrote for many publications. Her popularity was huge and she fought throughout her life for a better standard of living for all.
Nettie Huxley: born in 1825, Nettie wrote two children’s books late in the century, but her life was more adventurous than most fictional characters! Descendant of a Caribbean pirate, and possessed of a pioneering spirit, Nettie travelled extensively, including spending over a decade in Australia. With a colourful family history (even in recent generations), Nettie’s life must have been exciting from the very beginning, and I want to know more about her!
Have you found Cranky Ladies of History in unexpected places?
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