A groundbreaking work of storytelling and scholarship from Dr Clare Wright, winner of the Stella Prize for The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka.
For the ten years from 1902, when Australia's suffrage campaigners won the vote for white women, the world looked to this trailblazing young democracy for inspiration.
Clare Wright's epic new history tells the story of that victory - and of Australia's role in the subsequent international struggle - through the eyes of five remarkable players- the redoubtable Vida Goldstein, the flamboyant Nellie Martel, indomitable Dora Montefiore, daring Muriel Matters, and artist Dora Meeson Coates, who painted the controversial Australian banner carried in the British suffragettes' monster marches of 1908 and 1911.
Clare Wright's Stella Prize-winning The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka retold one of Australia's foundation stories from a fresh new perspective. With You Daughters of Freedom she brings to life a time when Australian democracy was the envy of the world - and the standard bearer for progress in a shining new century.
About the Author
Dr Clare Wright is an award-winning historian and author who has worked as an academic, political speechwriter, historical consultant and radio and television broadcaster. Her most recent book, The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka, won the 2014 Stella Prize and the 2014 NIB Award for Literature and was shortlisted for many other awards.
Industry Reviews
'You Daughters of Freedom brings some forgotten women into the public discourse again, and we are all the richer for it.' * Australian *
'Clare Wright's You Daughters of Freedom is the uplifting story of a time Australia led the world in including women in our democratic project. It is a reminder of our proud legacy and a clarion call for who we can be.' * Penny Wong *
'A thrilling tale, superbly told, of brave Australian women with a passion for politics.' * Judith Brett *
'This book will be brilliant.' -- Annabel Crabb * Chat 10 Looks 3 *
'One of the country's most accomplished story-tellers relates Australian women's fight for the vote in all of its passion, intensity and drama.' * Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU *
'The essential story of our greatest reformers, and one of our proudest achievements as a nation.' * George Megalogenis *
'A rare achievement. Grand, bold and brilliantly written.' * Mark McKenna *
'You Daughters of Freedom relates with sparkle and wit the largely untold story of the trailblazing women who not only dragged recalcitrant male leaders into the new century and won the right to vote but also were at the forefront of the struggle for women's enfranchisement internationally.' * Inside Story *
'Her story of Australian suffragists winning the vote and then running for parliament in 1903 should be required reading in this time of angst over the 'women problem' in the federal Liberal Party.' * Weekend Australian Magazine *
'I urge you to read it; share it with your family, friend and colleagues; make sure your local library has multiple copies; ditto the local book store and newsagent; put it on the list of you reading group.' -- Diane Bell * Honest History *
'Fascinating.' * 3RRR *
'A celebration of leadership, inspiration, education and sheer individual cheek.' * Sydney Morning Herald *
'Sizzling.' * Caroline Overington *
'When I finish, I want to...hold the book aloft and tell every person I know to read it.' * Australian Book Review *
'A fascinating book that also raises interesting questions about our national culture.' * Canberra Weekly *
'An exciting history of a trailblazing campaign.' * Good Weekend *
'Another book to re-invigorate a near-forgotten chapter of history.' * Spectator *
'Women's suffrage remains one of young Australia's finest moments and Wright does its participants proud.' * Corrie Perkin *
'Fresh, compelling and devoid of dry or, worse, obfuscating academese.' * Whispering Gums *
'So eloquently and subtly challenges the weary emphasis on the Anzac legend as the defining moment of the first two decades of twentieth-century Australian history. Instead, we have an account of the engrossing struggle of Australian women to win the vote in their own country and the crucial role they played in the British suffrage campaign.' * Queensland Review *
