BookBrowse Reviews Stories from Suffragette City by M.J. Rose, Fiona Davis

In this anthology, short stories by authors including Paula McLain, Christina Baker Kline and Fiona Davis imagine the events of a 1915 march for women's suffrage through different perspectives.

Our First Impressions readers were fascinated by the historical fiction from a range of authors presented in Stories from Suffragette City, edited by M.J. Rose and Fiona Davis, collectively awarding the book 4.7 out of 5 stars.

What it's about:

Thirteen talented and well-known authors contribute to the anthology, and all of the stories have some connection to October 23, 1915, the day a large group of U.S. women marched together in New York City in an effort to earn the right to vote. The characters of these tales are varied, coming from all over the country and representing very different ages and economic groups. In some instances, real historical figures are incorporated into the fictional narratives (Patricia E). The stories are vignettes about women and girls participating in the parade, with a few of the stories having threads of connection. Authors include Chris Bohjalian, Jamie Ford, Paula McLain and Christina Baler Kline. Highly recommended for book clubs and young adult readers (Judith C).

Many readers appreciated that the book offers a broad spectrum of experiences:

While I liked all the stories, I think my favorites were 'Apple Season' and 'The Last Mile.' The first features a main character who is impoverished; the last features characters who are privileged. I enjoyed seeing that the right to vote was important to all women, not just those of a certain social class (Gail K). I was particularly struck by the diverse reactions of the men in the lives of these women — from the husband whose zoo trip to see the Thylacine marsupial becomes a life-changing experience for him and an awakening for his wife, to Charles Tiffany of jewelry fame who is opened reluctantly to a new vision of the future for himself and his seven-year-old niece, Grace (Carol S).

Several mentioned feeling inspired by the suffrage activists and their commitment to change:

It was moving to read about the determination and courageous spirit of these women who planned to march in New York City in 1915. Some of the marchers were familiar to me — Ava Vanderbilt and Ida B. Wells, for example. The characters represent different ages, ethnicities and motivations for adding their voices to this important cause for the democracy we enjoy today (Carol S). In these stories, we see women with the courage to act and the faith to believe in a better future for all women. They are not perfect, as they do not include women of color as equals. We do well to remember these stories as we face the challenges of our own time. Highly recommended (Lynn D).

Even those who do not usually read this genre were won over:

I don't read short stories very often, but I really enjoyed this collection. There is a lot of variety in the people who included in them, but they are tied together very well by the focus of the suffragettes' parade (Christine D). Although I rarely choose to read short stories, I'm so glad I made an exception in requesting Stories from Suffragette City (Gail K). I loved this book! Although I am not a fan of short stories, I was drawn to this book because of the authors. I didn't know much about the 1915 Women's Suffragette March. As a side note, I also learned reading short stories can be as fulfilling as reading a whole novel (Martha S).

Overall, readers felt this anthology was a timely and well-crafted distillation of the movement for women's suffrage:

Because of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment this year, I've been reading a great deal of both fiction and nonfiction based on the women and men who were part of the more than 80-year struggle. Of all the volumes I've read, this will take pride of place on my shelves. I highly recommend it (Patricia E). A historic and tumultuous election year and the global pandemic back-burnered many of the centennial commemorations of the passage of the 19th Amendment. But this book has a message that perhaps becomes even more meaningful as political winds blow from different directions. Your favorite writers personalize a social upheaval that has shaped all our lives, writing short vignettes that can easily be wedged into your day. What could be better? (Carol P).

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in January 2021, and has been updated for the March 2022 edition. Click here to go to this issue.