Wild Women of Washington, D.C.: A History of Disorderly Conduct from the Ladies of the District (Wicked)

Product Description

Fiery suffragettes, unconventional first ladies, and rebellious socialites turning up their noses at ladylike behavior, these pioneering women of Washington, D.C., shattered the expectations of a tightly-corseted society.

Escaped slave turned spy Mary Touvestre risked it all to scuttle Confederate plans to break the Union blockade. Trading petticoats for trousers to work at the Union hospitals, Dr. Mary E. Walker was both the only female Medal of Honor recipient and the possessor of a police record for impersonating a man. During Prohibition, First Lady Florence Harding hosted jazz soirees and served up cocktails in the White House gardens. From pioneering photographers and newspaperwomen to enterprising madams and soldiers in disguise, author Canden Schwantes introduces readers to the decidedly daring and wild women of the capital.

About the Author

Canden Schwantes is the author of Wicked Georgetown: Scoundrels, Sinners and Spies. She is a guide for the tour company DC by Foot. She earned a BA in history from Elon University and an MA in history from the University College London. She is a volunteer docent and researcher for the D.C. Historical Society and Kiplinger Library and a member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, D.C.