Goddess:50 Goddesses, Spirits, Saints and other female figures who have shaped belief
Dr Janina Ramirez, illustrated by Sarah Walsh
Nosy Crow

With its more explanatory subtitle ’50 Goddesses, Spirits, Saints and other female figures who have shaped belief ‘ and published in collaboration with the British Museum, this book showcases the lives of female figures whose qualities and skills as creators, warriors, leaders, healers, and protectors of the mystical kind have helped shape belief today.

Organised into five sections – Ruling and Guiding, New Life, War and Death, Love and Wisdom and, Animals and Nature, cultural historian Dr Janina Ramirez presents stories of fascinating female figures some of which will likely be familiar to readers, others who probably will not.
First though comes an introduction that shares ideas about how the meaning of the word ‘goddess’ has changed over time.
Thereafter, each double spread presents a different character with associated legends and is brought to life by Sarah Walsh’s bold, bright illustrations together with photographs of objects from the collections of the British Museum.

You’ll read about figures from Greek, Celtic and Norse mythology, as well as those from further afield -West African,

Indian and Native American – mythology. From Ariadne, Asase Yaa and Anat to Sarasvati, Tiamat and Xiwangmu there’s a connecting thread – that of the power of the female – that runs throughout the book.

Both educational and entertaining, this fascinating celebration of woman power in its many forms should definitely find a place in school topic boxes, libraries, and home collections.