This important book is a celebration of the achievements of womankind. It honours 50 amazing women and the enduring impact they have on our lives.

From rulers and warriors to sportswomen and innovators, from writers and artists to heroines and revolutionaries, these are moving accounts of struggle, tragedy, dedication and triumph, more dramatic than any fiction.

Progressing through history, from Cleopatra and Mary Magdalene to Madonna and Diana Princess of Wales, each of these exceptional women’s stories is told against the backdrop of events of their time.

For each, we learn of their achievements, backgrounds, characters and little-known details that make them ever more remarkable.