Brazen

'Pénélope Bagieu … is a kind of genius. This book already feels like a classic, one to be loved by every girl who reads it from now until the end of time.' Rachel Cooke, The ObserverImmerse yourself in the captivating adventures of some of history’s unsung heroines, whose stories are told through engaging voices, dazzling drawings and with startling wit. Discover the life of an apache warrior dubbed “strong as a man and braver than most of them”, the only female Empress of China, three rebel sisters who toppled a fascist regime, a dancer who escaped poverty in America to become the darling of the Paris jazz scene and a resistance fighter, and a little girl who grew up to realise that being a witch is better than being a princess. Take in the stories of volcanologists, astronauts, animal whisperers, activists and explorers and feel ready to take on the world. Illustrated by award-winning Parisian artist Pénélope Bagieu, humorous dialogue and uncommon true tales make Brazen an ideal book for anyone who loves trail blazers and courageous women, from Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls to The Handmaid’s Tale.

Bagieu’s writing is clever and concise and panels brim with sly subtleties; Bagieu delivers laugh-out-loud one-liners in bitsy speech bubbles and summons tragedy with no words at all, and her fine-lined figures are by turns playfully expressive, fierce, and reverent. This dynamic paean to women’s flair for fierce resistance will have readers happily sifting through history - and tackling the future with renewed verve. Rock on, ladies., Bagieu delivers a pièce de résistance that succinctly summarizes the obstacles and victories of these daring women. Insightful and clever … this serves as a reminder that the hardships women face today have been shared - and overcome - by many others., Story collections about famous women often include figures like Joan of Arc and Florence Nightingale. Bagieu goes further afield, creating short graphic biographies about inspiring women from many unexpected times and places. Bagieu’s writing is sly and understated, and her panels combine impish comedy with unexpected moments of sensuousness. Any one of these stories would make a rousing picture book biography; 29 of them in one volume produces a work whose energy and wit will spur readers to get going and change the world., Brazen is a colorful look into the fascinating lives of twenty-nine determined, iconoclastic women who were bold visionaries. It features both world-famous and little-known women throughout history., A strikingly original collective biography for casual readers, students, and those looking for inspiration in their own lives.

Penelope Bagieu was born in Paris in 1982 to Corsican and Basque parents. She is a bestselling graphic novel author, and her editorial illustrations have appeared all over the French media. In America, her graphic novels include Exquisite Corpse and California Dreamin'. She blogs, plays drums in a rock band, and watches lots of nature shows.