Women’s History In The Past and Today: Writing The Accidental Suffragist

Women’s History In The Past and Today

When I decided to tackle the huge yet impassioned task of writing a novel, I immediately gravitated to historical fiction. It’s my reading genre of choice as it allows us to be inspired by what really happened and get the back story in an engaging mode.

The historical fiction books I researched and read – especially about heroic women – spanned World War II, famous figures such as Florence Nightingale, European independence wars, and the depression era in the United States. 

As a passionate women’s rights enthusiast, I’d always been fascinated by the Suffragists, from Susan B. Anthony and visions of women wearing white dresses and sashes marching down the avenues. My previous career as a financial analyst writer facilitated my research on historical fiction books written about Suffragists. 

I assumed there would be a wealth of comparative fiction to analyze for my proposed subject matter.  However, when I delved deeper, very few came up in my research and practically none in the popular arena with suffragists as the main subject. It only confirmed that this was the area I wanted to explore and thus “The Accidental Suffragist” was conceived and created.       

I also found in my research that the number of fictional books about strong tenacious historical women exploded in the last ten years.  Currently, there are so many books that are motivating and can’t put down stories about women we don’t really know about, and this number is proliferating exponentially.

 These women’s roles were initially detailed as a side note yet they performed an integral part to the story. For example: Hadley Richardson, the first wife of Ernest Hemingway told in “The Paris Wife” by Paula McLain or Rachel, the mother of the famous painter Camille Pissarro in “The Marriage of Opposites” by Alice Hoffman or Mamah Borthwick Cheney, the mistress of Frank Lloyd Wright in “Loving Frank” by Nancy Horan.

Before that, most of the historical fiction books were about women in the Victorian era or Russian royalty. While it was interesting to learn about them, as modern women we weren’t inspired nor able to apply their stories to our current lives.  However, these recent books are not the case and these unsung heroes continue to stir me today.

During my research, I uncovered that at times the challenges of the historical women were often portrayed one dimensionally.  Their struggles ranged from fighting for freedom, independence and the right to work.

However, we learned little about their other trials. What else did they encounter during their trial?  While I was writing my novel “The Accidental Suffragist,” the main character, Helen Fox had many issues to contend with. As a working-class woman, she didn’t fit in with the wealthy suffragists.

At the same time, once she started working with the suffragists, she didn’t fit in with her tenement community any longer. Between her financial burden and as the main caregiver for her large family, she had a weight no one could relate to. While she didn’t question the suffragists cause, it was such an uphill battle that didn’t seem to have an end in sight.  

The next stage in women’s history through fiction are books that are loosely based on historical figures but retell the story completely.  These new books show us the depth of female characters, strengths and flaws with captivating background and impressive ways they overcome hurdles.

For example, “Great Circle” by Maggie Shipstead could be interpreted as based on Amelia Earhart’s life. Soon enough it is obvious there are a few similarities but it turns out to be a completely different story – a fictional account.  The reader leaves with a strong female character and is entertained by thought-provoking points of history.  

I can’t wait to see this next generation of historical fiction novels based on women’s history. How they will get deeper into the complex thoughts of their emotions, their multi-dimensional snapshot into their lives.  And most importantly, a chance for us readers to be entertained and learn about women in history we never knew. To keep their voices alive. 

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Galia Gichon is the author of “The Accidental Suffragist.” Widely quoted in The New York Times and more, Galia spent nearly ten years writing financial research for top investment banks before launching Down-to-Earth Finance, a top personal financial advising firm in New York. She is passionate about empowering women through feminist stories and financial independence.

The Accidental Suffragist

Empowering novel reveals how the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire sparked a newfound interest in the suffrage movement

“compelling and intriguing” –Midwest Book Review

WESTPORT, Connecticut –over a century after women were granted the right to vote, a new voice in historical fiction, Galia Gichon, explores this pivotal moment in time through a unique and distinctive lens. 

It’s 1911, and protagonist Helen Fox is a factory worker living in New York’s tenements. When tragedy strikes in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, Helen is seduced by the cause for women’s suffrage and is soon immersed, working alongside famous activists.

As Helen’s involvement with the cause deepens, she encounters myriad sources of tension that test her perseverance: estrangement from her husband, who is blindsided by his wife’s sudden activism; ostracization by neighbors; unease at working side by side with wealthier suffragettes; and worry about her children as she leaves them to picket the White House in Washington.

“The Accidental Suffragist” (Wyatt-MacKenzie, June 2021) spans World War One and concludes with the triumph of 1919. In a time when the obstacles for women seemed insurmountable, Helen discovers her voice as an independent woman and dreams of equality in a male-dominated society. 

“engaging… Helen is an appealing heroine and her personal journey will resonate with readers.” –BookList

BUY HERE

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GALIA GICHON: Widely quoted in The New York Times and more, Galia Gichon spent nearly ten years writing financial research for top investment banks before launching Down-to-Earth Finance, a top personal financial advising firm in New York.

Galia is the author of My Money Matters, a personal finance book which received notable press from the New York Times, TODAY Show, CNN, Newsweek, Real Simple and more. Galia Gichon frequently leads seminars for Barnard College where she has taught for 13 years. She is an avid angel investor focusing on women-led and impact startups and actively counsels startups through accelerators. 

Follow Galia on social media: 

Twitter: @pagesandmore | Instagram: @pagesandmore

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