A masterpiece of literary polyphony and an unapologetic testimonial to the need for a new account of humanity – from woman’s point of view
This book gives voice to ten extraordinary women, from the age of heroes to the present. Individuals whose view of things has not been passed down – because men were in charge, erased the truth and condensed lies to legend. These women were only allowed to remain silently invisible, or to appear in the picture ornamentally. But now they are speaking up – loud and clear, like a bullet that’s just been fired off.
Zipporah, 1490 BC – Moses’s black wife
Antigone, age of heroes – fighter against tyranny
Judith, 6th day after the Resurrection – follower of Jesus, wife of Judas
Brunhild, 429 – magical Valkyrie, warrior queen
Prista Frühbottin, 1540 – healer accused of witchcraft
Lore Lay, 1799 – maid who refuses to be reduced to poetry
Lisette Bielstein, 1849 – Socialist daughter of an industrialist
Hildrun Tilmanns, 1945 – “Trümmerfrau” (“rubble woman”)
Leyla, 1965 – first-wave guest worker in Germany
Valerie Solanas, 1968 – feminist who takes up arms
