Throughout history, Scottish women have broken the rules with attitude. Williamina Fleming reached for the stars and took Harvard by storm. Mary Somerville challenged prejudice to claim the title "scientist" for women. Effie Gray knew the power of language to name and shame bullies and belittlers. Agnes Randolph stood up to a siege and owned every minute of it like a boss. Inspirational and fierce in every sense, these sisters will fire you up to face your own modern-day dilemmas with serious style.

Mairi Kidd is Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland. She was formerly Managing Director of Barrington Stoke, a prize-winning publisher. A fluent Gaelic speaker, she has an MA in Celtic Studies from Edinburgh University. As CEO of Stòrlann, the National Gaelic Education Resource Agency, she worked with Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and local authorities. Mairi is a contributor to BBC Radio nan Gàidheal’s books coverage and writes for broadcast, including Gaelic comedy series FUNC.

CONTENTS
Introduction 1
WARRIORS
Sgàthach, warrior and teacher 9
Devorgilla of Galloway, religious patron 11
Agnes Randolph, Countess of Dunbar 15
Margaret Wilson, martyr 19
Jean Armour, wife and mother 23
Mary Somerville, mathematician and polymath 27
James Barry, doctor 31
Màiri Mhòr nan Òran / Mary MacPherson, poet and land campaigner 37
Effie Gray, manager, model and muse 41
‘The Edinburgh Seven’: Sophia Jex-Blake, Isabel Thorne,
Edith Pechey, Matilda Chaplin, Helen Evans,
Mary Anderson and Emily Bovell, seekers after learning 45
Williamina Fleming, astronomer 49
Elsie Inglis, doctor and suffragist 53
Victoria Drummond, Marine Engineer 57
Mairi Chisholm, motor-racer and medic 61
Naomi Mitchison, writer 65
Jane Haining, matron of the Scottish Mission School, Budapest 69
Maw Broon, matriarch 73
Janet ‘Jennie’ Lee, politician 75
Belle Stewart, tradition-bearer 79

WITCHES
Gruoch of Scotland, ruler 89
Gormshuil Mhòr na Maighe / Gormal of Lochaber, witch and advisor 93
Mòr Chaimbeul / Marion Campbell, poet and noblewoman 95
Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, ruler 99
Euphame MacCalzean, ‘witch’ 105
Janet Wishart, ‘witch’ 109
Màiri Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh / Mary MacLeod, poet and nursemaid 113
Rachel Chiesley, Lady Grange, prisoner 117
Agnes Maclehose, muse 121
Bessie Millar, entrepreneur 125
Jane Welsh Carlyle, writer 127
Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, artist 131
Helen Duncan, medium 135

DAMN REBEL BITCHES
Ebba of Coldingham, abbess 145
Isabella MacDuff, Countess of Buchan 149
Amy NicRuairidh / Amy of Garmoran, dispossessed heiress and
religious patron 153
Jenny Geddes, protester 157
Winifred Maxwell of Nithsdale, countess 161
Fionnghal Nic Dhòmhnaill / Flora MacDonald, tacksman’s daughter 165
Elizabeth Grant, seamstress 169
Christian Sutherland, Lady Reay, noblewoman 173
Anne Farquharson, Lady Mackintosh, rebel 177
Fanny Wright, lecturer, writer and freethinker 181
Jane Smeal and Eliza Wigham, activists 185
Flora Drummond, suffragette 189
Mary Reid Macarthur, suffragist and trade unionist 193
Mary Brooksbank, poet and trade unionist 197
Isobel Wylie Hutchison, explorer, writer and botanist 201
Tetuanui-reia-ite-raiatea, chieftess 205
A Woman’s Work Is Never Done – Takeaways 209
Taing / Thanks 217
Mairi Kidd, writer, publisher and translator 218