Lives of Celebrated Women

'Lives of Celebrated Women' by Samuel G. Goodrich is a collection of biographies that challenges the notion that a woman's destiny is limited to the domestic sphere. Goodrich profiles women whose endowments and achievements allowed them to exert a happy influence on mankind at large during his time, including Joan of Arc, Marie Antoinette, and Mary Queen of Scots. While acknowledging the value of a quiet domestic career for many women, Goodrich insists that those with exceptional abilities should be free to pursue their potential in any field, just as men are.