Ahead of Their Time: A Biographical Dictionary of Risk-Taking Women
- Book Review,
by Joyce Duncan
From Booklist
This selective dictionary describes the lives of 75 women from the eighteenth through the twentieth centuries who have "broken traditional bounds and ventured into uncharted territory" on land, at sea, or in the air. The alphabetical entries are introduced with dates of birth and, where appropriate, dates of death; country of origin; field of endeavor; and, in many instances, a photograph. Narratives of two to four pages are accompanied by short bibliographies. The volume concludes with several appendixes: "Vignettes of Other Women" about whom little is known, followed by lists of women grouped by category (e.g., "Aviators," "Iditarod Champion") and by nationality.The women include mountaineers, explorers, aviators, anthropologists, archaeologists, environmentalists, naturalists, sailors, and adventurers. One finds such well-known names as anthropologist Ruth Benedict, aviator Amelia Earhart, and astronaut Mae Jemison; but there also are entries for Ruth Nichols, heiress turned aviator; Marianne North, nineteenth-century conservationist; and Alexandrine Tinne, Dutch explorer of the Middle East. Though subjects are predominantly from the U.S. or England, there are some representatives from other parts of the world (Valentina Nikolayev and Junko Tabei, for example).This easy-to-use, highly readable dictionary is suitable for high-school, public, and undergraduate collections, although libraries that own other titles such as Encyclopedia of Women in Aviation and Space Technology (ABC-CLIO, 1998) and Encyclopedia of Women's Travel and Exploration (Oryx, 2001) may find it an optional purchase. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
This unique reference work brings together a wealth of information about pioneering women who took risks and made remarkable strides in a diversity of fields. Whether in the name of science, sport, or humanitarianism, the spirit of adventure runs through the lives of these 75 daring woman who broke down barriers as they explored the far reaches of the globe, the depths of the seas, and the lofty expanses of space. These inspiring profiles investigate a wide range of notable women from throughout history and from around the globe. Included are the familiar and famous names such as Amelia Earhart, Jane Goodall, and Margaret Mead. Lesser known but equally inspiring women for whom it is more difficult to find information are also included, from early explorers to recent role models.
About the Author
JOYCE DUNCAN is on the faculty at East Tennessee State University where she teaches English and Service-Learning. She is the Managing Editor of the Sport Literature Association, editor of H-Arete listserv and a freelance writer, editor and photographer. Her previous publications include numerous contributions to reference books including: Dictionary of World Biography, Masterplots II, Encyclopedia of Civil Rights in America, American National Biography, Great Events from History and Encyclopedia of Popular Culture in the United States.
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