Victorian Woman

This is not a deep treatment of half of the species during the later 19th century, but while superficial, it's interesting, well written, and very well illustrated, mostly with reproductions of English "story paintings" of the period, heavy on Hunt, Millais, Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Crowe, and Sargent. The coverage runs from Victoria herself, who set the tone, and the myth vs. reality of the world of women at the time, to pioneering women in sport, education, the professions, and foreign travel. A nice afternoon's browse.

Not only is this book filled with beautiful photos and illustrations, it also gives the reader a wonderful glimpse into the lives of women of the 19th century, including everything from the role of women in Victorian society to the style of dress of the era. This is truly a great read for anyone interested in the lives of 19th century women.