What we can learn from the first woman to summit Everest and the woman who invented the ironing board?

What can we learn from the first woman to summit Everest, the first woman to run a marathon or the woman who invented the ironing board? Scottish comedian, actor and author Eleanor Morton addressed the question and came up with examples of women who defied society and took history in their own hands to achieve what they wanted to do, in her book, Life Lessons from Historical Women , and throws in a lot of laughs along the way. With chapters entitled 'How To Thrive' with Judith Kerr, the author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, 'Think Like an Entrepreneur' with Mary Seacole, nurse and businesswoman, and 'How Not to Give a F***' with suffragette and martyr Emily Davison Morton takes an inspiring look at women who fought for the right to be themselves. She also throws in comparisons with contemporary struggles and lighthearted listicles including 10 Beauty tips from history you definitely shouldn’t try (radiation for a healthy glow anyone?) and 10 Quotes from Historical Women for Any Situation, plus random everyday things you didn’t know were invented by women from the pedal bin to Monopoly and windscreen wipers.

Taking time out from her comedy Fringe show, Haunted House, more of which later, Morton explains what Life Lessons From Historical Women is all about. “It’s an expansion of the listicle genre and it’s women from different periods from history who have done interesting things or I feel have been misrepresented, ignored or not fully appreciated. It’s women the wor.