Women's London

A book that's a most novel idea!

An essential purchase across the consumer, public, and academic market segments owing to its singular scope and acceptable execution.

Another London-centric travel guide from Kolsky (owner of Go London Tours; Jewish London) emphasizes the contributions and historic reminders of London's most influential women. The guide begins with nine walking tours organized by neighborhood to "walk in their footsteps"; each includes a map, distance and duration, nearby public transportation, recommended dining, and full wheelchair access unless noted. These comprise the bulk of this slim volume and convey more about neighborhood feel rather than facilitate detailed individual historical research. The latter third of the guide is thematic, such as featuring statues in "Women on a Pedestal." Only a few personages are explored in depth throughout, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, who gets three pages against the bulk of entries only garnering a paragraph. Breadth of coverage is achieved to the exclusion of specificity. Kolsky's research certainly yields a serviceable guide to an underserved tourism segment, but most readers will likely crave additional color photos and more comprehensive information. Clear chapters, maps, and a decent index are user-friendly. Even educated readers will discover how much they don't know about women's history.

Every page of this beautiful, bountiful book brings a new revelation. It's that rare breed of guide book that you'll want to read cover to cover, preferably while out on the streets tracking down the locations. We can't recommend it highly enough.

From the East End to royalty, from fashion, art and culture to medicine, archaeology and politics, the guide whisks readers around the capital to discover the less well-known female figures who've contributed to the capital's history.

Kolsky does not shy away from difficult history: she looks for example at the disputes within the Suffragist movement, between socialists and pacifists on the one hand who opposed the First World War, and those feminists who threw their weight behind "King and Country". And there is much to celebrate and inspire, from Diane Abbot becoming the first black female MP in 1987 to the first female police officer back in 1919.

Kolsky's guidebook is packed with information to fascinate and inspire.

With self-guided walking tours, specially commissioned maps and fascinating insights, the book is handy for exploring London on foot and equally engaging for the armchair reader.

Women's London: A Tour Guide to Great Lives will have you seeing London in a new light and celebrating women!