Six top books about history’s forgotten women

Jenni Murray is a journalist and broadcaster who has presented BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour since 1987. Her latest book is A History of the World in 21 Women. One of Murray's six best books about history’s forgotten women, as shared at the Guardian:

Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith is the only novel whose plot twist surprised me so much that I actually jumped out of my chair and shrieked: “Oh no!” The main characters in this gripping story set in Victorian London are both orphans and victims of low-life cruelty: Sue is raised in a Dickensian den of thieves; Maud lives with her uncle, who has her catalogue his collection of pornography. Lesbian love finally conquers all.

Read about another entry on the list.

Fingersmith is among Santa Montefiore's six best books, Stuart Jeffries's five sexiest scenes in literature, and Kirsty Logan's ten best LGBT sex scenes in literature.

--Marshal Zeringue