interesting historical european woman?

Question

who do you think is an interesting woman from Europe since about 1850?

i have to dress up like her and do a small talk, so preferably a kinda modern outfit-y thing :)

Answer 1

I don't know if you can pull it off, but how about George Sand? Her name was Aurore Dudevant, and she was a prolific French novelist. She carried on two of the most torrid love affairs of the 19th century (Frederic Chopin and [a French poet I forget]). At the age of 18, about 1830, she wanted to go to the Folies. In those days, women of good standing went to the opera or classical plays, but never to musical theater. Not only would she be shamed by going, but the management would never let her in. Young men friends of hers lent her a suit of man's clothes. She put her hair up under a man's top hat. Men didn't take their hats off at the Folies, so she was safe. But if she ever spoke, her high female voice would give her away and the bouncers would throw her out. So her men friends said that she was George Sand, an Englishman who did not speak French. If George Sand had to speak, "he" would whisper to a friend, who "translated" what "he" had to say. It may be that you can get a picture of George Sand in men's clothes. Later in the 19th century, she liked the freedom that men's clothes gave her, and she liked cigars. She was enthusiastically heterosexual, however. Look her up!

Answer 2

Margaret Thatcher, First Woman Prime Minister of Great Britain
Wallis Simpson, so beguiling a king gave up his throne-ha!

Answer 3

Countess Markiewicz - she was the first female MP in the British Parliament and one of the revolutionary leaders of Irelands war for independence. Check her up on the sites below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countess_Markievicz
http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/ireland.html
http://www.politics.ie/wiki/index.php?title=Countess_Constance_Markiewicz

She was extremely important to Irish people and her impact can be seen in the fact the Ireland has had two female presidents, both extremely strong willed and popular with the electorate

Answer 4

Joy Adamson, 1910 - 1980, Austrian-born naturalist and conservationist in Africa. Discuss the Bornean orangutan
apathy in Europe and make constructive suggestions how
it could be better housed in a zoo.

Answer 5

Go with Florence Nightengale. She's the angel of the Crimean War, and a real hero to all Nurses world wide.

Answer 6

There's Margaret Thatcher and Mme. Royal (can't spell her first name), the former the first female PM of Britain and the latter has a high chance of becoming the first female President of France.

Answer 7

Personally for the time period you mentioned the first lady that came to my mind is Queen Victoria. She ruled England and yet still had 9 children. She was a good queen for England.
Kerri
http://kerri530.bravejournal.com

Answer 8

nice