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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Women & Power by Mary Beard

This short book, adapted by two lectures, looks back across history to see how society mistreated women, and what underpins misogyny. Using ancient and modern examples, Mary Beard primarily looks at the way in which women have been and continue to be silenced and how the patriarchy has dominated civilisation for centuries. How must our power structures change for women to have equal claim to it? If all this sounds heavy, be reassured that Beard’s signature wit and clarity make this a biting read.

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