Recs if you like After All...

I have been collecting (and reading) a long list of memoirs, autobiographies and biographies about women who had fascinating lives. I thought I might as well make it a list! A lot of them I have read and enjoyed, some are from my TBR. I am especially fascinated by 18th-19th century women's stories, so there will be a lot of those. And women from diverse backgrounds. Open to suggestions!

A list of books that fit the prompts for the 2026 Polymath Training Challenge. (Egypt / Sleep, dreams / Astronomy and space exploration / Gastronomy and foods / Interior design, furniture / Chemistry / Mines and mining / Exploration and explorers / Art and nature /Agriculture /Economics) plus the "choose 1" prompts (Microbiome / Chocolate and coffee / Cultural history / Boardgames and role-playing games / Linguistics / Ethology / History of science / Cosmetics / Empathy). Open to suggestions!

Memoirs, biographies, letters, and diaries about sapphic love through the ages. In case anyone comes up with the "this didn't exist in the olden days!" argument.

Memoirs and biographies from/about people (esp. queer women) who were closely involved, so you can read the stories side by side