Happy International Women’s Day to all! Here’s a big post to (I hope) celebrate and champion women.

First, here are some of my favourite women (real and fictional).

My followers may notice that Edith isn’t on this list. The sole reason for that is that I wanted to champion some different women today. Edith will forever be a strong, remarkable, femenist icon to me (shout out also to Natasha Little, who portrayed her on screen and as such, forever has my gratitude).

Lucy Worsley – enthusiasm personified when it comes to history and I love her hands-on approach. Would one day love to do what she does: write books and present documentaries on the things that fascinate me.

Nancy (from Oliver Twist) – one of the first fictional characters I came to love, she’s feisty, loyal and, most importantly, kind. Her relationship with Bill Sykes is in no way healthy and the fate she meets is no way deserved. But in spite of everything she puts Oliver first and is therefore, in my opinion, a proper Dickens heroine.

Anne Lister – I wouldn’t be who I am today without Anne Lister and Gentleman Jack.

Suranne Jones – Without her portrayal of Anne Lister, there would be no Gentleman Jack, and I will be forever grateful to her for bringing Anne to the screen.

Sarah Jane Smith – my childhood role model and definitely a strong women in everything she does. Brave, kind and selfless, so glad I grew up with her to look up to.

Elisabeth Sladen – the wonderful woman who brought Sarah Jane to life, and it still saddens me that I never got to meet her.

Jo March – I related to Jo within a minute of seeing her on screen, as a tomboyish aspiring writer, but she is much more fierce than me, which is something I aspire to get better at.

Next, some book recommendations.

A History of Britain/The World in 21 Women by Jenni Murray. Each of these books consists of 21 mini biographies of women who have helped change and shape Britain and the world.

Literally anything by Laura Thompson, a fierce and eloquent feminist author who writes about a variety of women, she’s written more books than I can fit into this list, but I can personally vouch for the Edith one, Six Girls and Heiresses.

Elisabeth Sladen: the Autobiography. If you’re a Who fan, this book is essential reading but it delves into Elisabeth’s other roles too.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: an iconic piece of female literature, follow the four March sisters as they each embrace womanhood, each taking a different path in life.

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. Not necessarily a book full of strong female characters (although Linnet is very sure of herself and knows what she wants) but a book by an incredible lady author whose stories have gripped the world for over a century.

Gentleman Jack: The Real Anne Lister by Anne Choma: as a fan of Gentleman Jack, I have to reccomend this biography of the remarkable Anne Lister.