Women Adventurers, 1750-1900

May 1, 2013

McVicker (Women Composers of Classical Music; Adela Breton) here provides a concise biographical dictionary of women adventurers from the second half of the 18th through the 19th century. At a time when travel was perilous for men and women, the women covered here traveled to Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Mexico, and South America. Many of the subjects are British, but there are a few Americans among the entries as well. The entries include brief biographies highlighting the subjects' family and education histories, as well as excerpts from firsthand accounts of their travel. The excerpts from the women's works give researchers a more vivid sense of their experiences. Each entry concludes with source information and a list of the subject's publications. Researchers using this reference work will find a history of women adventurers who traveled throughout the world--or, in the case of Nellie Bly, who traveled around the world in 72 days. VERDICT A solid addition for school, public, and college libraries.--Diane Fulkerson, Univ. of South Florida in Lakeland

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