You Daughters of Freedom: The Australians Who Won the Vote and Inspired the World
Democracy Trilogy, Book Two
Clare Wright
For the ten years from 1902, when Australia’s suffrage campaigners won the vote for white women, the world looked to this trailblazing young democracy for inspiration.
Clare Wright’s epic new history tells the story of that victory—and of Australia’s role in the subsequent international struggle—through the eyes of five remarkable players: the redoubtable Vida Goldstein, the flamboyant Nellie Martel, indomitable Dora Montefiore, daring Muriel Matters, and artist Dora Meeson Coates, who painted the controversial Australian banner carried in the British suffragettes’ monster marches of 1908 and 1911.
Clare Wright’s Stella Prize-winning The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka retold one of Australia’s foundation stories from a fresh new perspective. With You Daughters of Freedom she brings to life a time when Australian democracy was the envy of the world—and the standard bearer for progress in a shining new century.
INTERVIEWS and REVIEWS
Senator Penny Wong’s launch speech
2SER
3RRR: Breakfasters (2:16:00)
ABC: The Conversation Hour
ABC Radio National: Big Ideas
ABC Radio National: Big Ideas (with Judith Brett)
ABC Radio National: Conversations
ABC Radio National: Late Night Live
ABC Radio National: Saturday Extra
ABC Sydney: Drive (0:30)
ABC TV: Q & A
ANZ LitLovers blog
Australian ($) ‘You Daughters of Freedom brings some forgotten women into the public discourse again, and we are all the richer for it.’
Australian Policy & History
Ballarat Courier
Better Words podcast
The Conversation
Final Draft interview (part one)
Final Draft interview (part two)
Guardian: Bookmark This
Guardian (Op-ed)
Her Canberra
Julia Gillard podcast
Mary Baker Eddy Library podcast
onest History
Inside Story
RTR FM
Spectator ‘Another book to re-invigorate a near-forgotten chapter of history.’
Sydney Institute: Crafting the Nation: The Story of a Banner, a Bicentennial and a Berth in the Big House of Australian Democracy (lecture)
Sydney Morning Herald
Whispering Gums
andYou Daughters of Freedom
‘You Daughters of Freedom brings some forgotten women into the public discourse again, and we are all the richer for it.’
‘Clare Wright’s You Daughters of Freedom is the uplifting story of a time Australia led the world in including women in our democratic project. It is a reminder of our proud legacy and a clarion call for who we can be.’
‘A thrilling tale, superbly told, of brave Australian women with a passion for politics.’
‘This book will be brilliant.’
‘One of the country’s most accomplished story-tellers relates Australian women’s fight for the vote in all of its passion, intensity and drama.’
‘The essential story of our greatest reformers, and one of our proudest achievements as a nation.’
‘A rare achievement. Grand, bold and brilliantly written.’
‘You Daughters of Freedom relates with sparkle and wit the largely untold story of the trailblazing women who not only dragged recalcitrant male leaders into the new century and won the right to vote but also were at the forefront of the struggle for women’s enfranchisement internationally.’
‘Her story of Australian suffragists winning the vote and then running for parliament in 1903 should be required reading in this time of angst over the ‘women problem’ in the federal Liberal Party.’
‘I urge you to read it; share it with your family, friend and colleagues; make sure your local library has multiple copies; ditto the local book store and newsagent; put it on the list of you reading group.’
‘Fascinating.’
‘A celebration of leadership, inspiration, education and sheer individual cheek.’
‘Sizzling.’
‘When I finish, I want to…hold the book aloft and tell every person I know to read it.’
‘A fascinating book that also raises interesting questions about our national culture.’
‘An exciting history of a trailblazing campaign.’
‘Another book to re-invigorate a near-forgotten chapter of history.’
‘Women’s suffrage remains one of young Australia’s finest moments and Wright does its participants proud.’
‘Fresh, compelling and devoid of dry or, worse, obfuscating academese.’
HardbackISBN: 97819256039341 October 2018
