Whatâs Her Name

Journey through thousands of years of human history (now with the women put back in).

From the earliest human civilizations through to the present day, the stories of countless influential women - leaders, artists, warriors, scientists and more - have been ignored, forgotten, or actively suppressed. You may not have encountered the likes of Fatima al-Fihri (an Islamic World visionary who founded the world's first university), Ching Shih (the most successful pirate in history), or Huda Sha'arawi (a pioneering Egyptian feminist leader, suffragette, nationalist, and founder of the Egyptian Feminist Union), but that's about to change.

In What's Her Name: A History of the World in 80 Lost Women, authors - and sisters - Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson weave together the captivating stories of these fascinating figures to tell an alternative, enthralling and deeply researched historical narrative.

A truly global history, What's Her Name features biographies of incredible women spanning six continents and thousands of years, from Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire to imperial China, the Americas and post-war Europe. Drawing on years of study and interviews with dozens of experts, this is an entertaining, thought-provoking look at the trailblazing women you may not have heard of (but should have).

About the Authors

Katie Nelson has a PhD in History from the University of Warwick and has been teaching a wide range of courses in world history and the meaning of life at Weber State University. She is co-author of The Book of Sisters and A Stinky History of Toilets and lives in Utah.

Olivia Meikle teaches Women's & Gender Studies at Naropa University. She's also the creator of Around the World in 80 Diapers, empowering parents to travel internationally with their kids, and co-author of The Book of Sisters and A Stinky History of Toilets. She has an MA in English Literature and Women's & Gender Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. She lives in Colorado.