A vivid recounting of the lives of five remarkable women, who rebelled against convention, prejudice and misogyny in order to explore, record and fight to protect the wild places throughout the world during the twentieth century.  Using first hand accounts from those who knew the women, and in-depth research of written sources, the author weaves the life narratives and achievements of the women, from Mina Hubbard’s recording of the geography and nature of northern Labrador in the early twentieth century; Evelyn’s Cheesman’s entomological and botanical research in the south Pacific; Dorothy Pilley’s outstanding achievements in mountaineering; Ethel Haythornthwaite’s campaigns for access for all to the countryside; through to Wangari Maathal’s Green Belt Movement in Kenya and political achievements in womens’ rights.  

The very real struggles of these women, physically, emotionally and socially, are clearly described, as they fought for their right, and ultimately those of all women, to experience and explore those wilder places on the planet that for too long have been assigned only to men.  For me, their experiences still resonate; even today the thought of a lone woman exploring the tame “wild” of present-day UK is often met with concern, even shock.  Thank goodness for those strong, pioneering women who went before me, who helped reclaim the wild, for all