10 of the Best Feminist Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime

From Caitlin Moran's joyful bestseller to Doris Lessing's radical novel, we round-up the feminist titles to inspire and galvanise.

Words by Ella Alexander. All images are courtesy.

Women have achieved a great deal over the last 100 years, thanks in part to the great canon of feminist literature which has shone a light on gender inequalities. Whether you want to educate yourself, a partner or a backward-thinking relative (we all have one), our guide to the best feminist books will change the way you think about gender inequality and what it means to be a woman today. Some take the form of compelling manifestos, while others take the form of imaginative prose, but each one draws attention to the progress that needs to be made. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is a start.

This article first appeared on Harper’s Bazaar UK

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A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

“England is under the rule of a patriarchy,” writes Virginia Woolf in her seminal book, A Room Of One’s Own. The author, curiously, was never keen on the term feminist, but in this short novel, she passionately and articulately writes about female exclusion – from independence, income and education. Her argument that the key to female creative liberation is a room, along with independence, is as valid now as it was then. In a world dominated by men, Woolf asserted her presence and creativity, paving the way for many to follow in her footsteps.

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