Biographies are often confused with memoirs because of the fact that they have almost the same elements. But for everyone’s benefit, the one defining trait of a biography is that it covers the story from beginning to end or the present. Unlike memoirs where you only have to cover a certain part of a person’s life, biographies are lengthier because they cover from top to bottom. Thus, here are some of the best biographies of women in literature!
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The first edition of Maya Angelou’s brilliant book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was published by Random House in 1969. It is an autobiography that tells the story of the remarkable poet and author Maya Angelou. It is a coming-of-age tale that shows the toughness of the main character and her love for literature are two keys that helped her conquer both racism and trauma.
It was opened by a three-year-old Maya Angelou and the time when her and his brother were brought to live with their grandmother in Arkansas. The story was ended the moment when Maya was 16 years old and entered motherhood. The captivating part of the story is its ability of showing the readers not only the extreme racism in the past but also the personal development of the author — from having an inferiority complex and being attacked because of her race to a self-possessed woman and a strong individual who answers to prejudice with dignity.
A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell
This New York Times bestseller, NPR’s Best Book of the Year, and Plutarch Award’s Best Biography was published by Penguin Books on April 9, 2019. It was not only included in the scope of women biographies but also in other genres, like history and gender studies. It is written by Sonia Purnell and is available in hardcover, audiobook, and kindle.
It revolves around the untold tale of the American spy who altered the trajectory of World War II named Virginia Hall. She is known to be the first Allied woman who was sent out at the back of enemy lines. She was a Baltimore socialite that is part of the Special Operations Executive who has a prosthetic leg. After being deployed to the enemies, Virginia lent her hand to ignite the flame of the French Resistance, which revolutionized the confidential warfare. In 1942, Hall was considered as the most threatening of each and every Allied spy. That is why Gestapo ordered dire mission to terminate her. But did they succeed on killing Virginia Hall? Find it out.
Patchwork by Carol Wilson-Mack
In July 10, 2020, Readersmagnet LLC published the book by Carol Wilson-Mack titled Patchwork: Conversation Between Generations. It contains different tales of females that are residing in a rural are in South Carolina called Bamberg around 1939 to 1959. These amazing women made God the center of their lives and formed an atmosphere that made the participants able to support their families.
One of the activities that they focused on was quilting. It is also the activity that allowed them to communicate and express their tales of struggles with each other. Patchwork inspiring stories inspire the readers in searching for ways to close the gap that is present between generations through telling substantial information by communication. Moreover, the circle of the youth and the group of the elders should keep an open mind regarding a two-way conversation. As an elder, one must not think that he or she have a monopoly in educating while as a youth, one must also have a thing to say. Thus, this book didn’t only document the lives of these women but also revolves around the significance of conversation.
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers published the illustrated edition of the book by Vashti Harrison titled Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History last December 5, 2017. It became a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, and is inspiring both children and adults from the date of its publication until today.This book teaches and motivates readers in a more captivating way because it relates real tales of 40 amazing black women in the history of America. Apart from that, it also contains irradiating text along with wonderful illustrations that bring both well and lesser known women of Black history.
The Happy Hammock 