From a Miniature by Holbein in the Collection of Sam.^lRogers Esq.

WOMEN OF HISTORY:

SELECTED FROM THE

WRITINGS OF STANDARD AUTHORS.

BY THE
EDITOR OF "MEN OF HISTORY."

Biography is the most universally pleasant and universallyprofitable of all reading."

EDINBURGH:
W. P. NIMMO, HAY, & MITCHELL.
1890.

MORRISON AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.

PREFACE.

Women of History is a further development of the idea which suggestedthe companion volume, Men of History, viz.: "To exhibit views of theworld's great men and women, as set forth in the best words of the bestauthors—to convey, as it were, at once impressions of History andLiterature, and lessons in Biography and Style."

In the present case, it has not been considered necessary to attempt aclassification of the subjects in the manner followed in the precedingvolume, from the fact that the feelings and motives which generallyinfluence the lives of celebrated women are of a nature different fromthose of the opposite sex, and from the consequent want of a standardsufficiently distinct to adhere to. A chronological arrangement,however, has been adopted, which, it is hoped, will to a considerableextent supply the want of classification.

CONTENTS.