Synopses & Reviews
Throughout history there have been women, endowed with curiosity and abundant spirit, who stepped out of the cave, cast off the shackles of expectation, and struck out for new territory. In this ode to bold, brash, and sometimes just plain dangerous women, Barbara Holland reanimates those rebels who defied convention and challenged authority on a truly grand scale: they traveled the world, commanded pirate ships, spied on the enemy, established foreign countries, scaled 19,000-foot passes, and lobbied to change the Constitution. Some were merry and flamboyant; others depressive and solitary. Some dressed up as men; others cherished their Victorian gowns. Many were ambivalent or absentminded mothers. But every one of them was fearless, eccentric, and fiercely independent. Barbara Holland evokes their energy in this unconventional book that will acquaint you with the likes of Grace OMalley, a blazing terror of the Irish seas in the 1500s, and surprise you with a fresh perspective on legends like Bonnie Parker of “Bonnie and Clyde” fame. With wit, wisdom, and irreverent flair, They Went Whistling makes a compelling case for the virtue of getting into trouble.
Synopsis
In her spirited account of willful women from Cleopatra to Mother Jones, Barbara Holland reanimates rebels both known and unknown who thrived doing the unexpected.
About the Author
Barbara Holland is the author of several books, including
Endangered Pleasures. She lives in western Loudon County, Virginia.
Author Q&A
“A girl-power version of women’s history, Holland’s entertaining book chronicles the lives of women who have defied convention. . . . A brisk, enjoyable volume.”
–Publishers Weekly
“Inspirational. . . . Short, spirited real-life tales about some of history’s most famously independent women.”
–Real Simple
From the Hardcover edition.