Wise Women

An unforgettable collection of retold myths and folk tales celebrating the wisdom and power of women in midlife and beyond

Ungainly giantesses. Sequin-strewn fairy godmothers. Misunderstood witches. Fierce grandmothers. Hairy-chinned hags. Craggy crones.

From early childhood, we learn about the world and its possibilities through myths and fairy tales. The heroines, though, tend to be golden-haired princesses, and the evil-doers often older women.

But from midlife onwards, women today are searching for positive versions of themselves, and this dazzling array of not-to-be-messed-with characters provides them. They outwit monsters, test and mentor younger heroines, embody the cycles and seasons of the earth, weave the world into being - and almost always have the last laugh.

These women manifest their wisdom in different ways, and so offer us inspiration for how we too can walk boldly and live authentically in the second half of life.

Praise for Sharon Blackie:

'Hagitude is already becoming a beloved cult classic, as a myth-infused manifesto for the possibilities for life from middle age onwards' Katherine May

'Engaging and inspiring, Sharon Blackie's beautiful book will empower people to find wonder in everyday life' Clover Stroud

'Fascinating, packed with stories and bursting with lovely descriptions of the natural world. There's plenty in Hagitude to inspire women of every age' Christina Patterson, Sunday Times