KRISTA COWMAN is Professor of History at the University of Lincoln, UK. She has published widely on the history of women's suffrage and on women in politics before the First World War. She serves on the steering committee of the Women's History Network.

'This overview of women and politics broadens the definition of political action and raises some core arguments and ideas that will stimulate discussion. The work offers a good historiographical guide and is a welcome addition to history undergraduate reading lists as a first point of reference for a range of political arenas where women were active.' - Sue Johnson, University of Worcester, UK

• AcknowledgementsIntroduction: Shaping the Narrative: Waves, Peaks and TroughsPART I: FORGING A POLITICAL PRESENCEFrom Glorious Revolution to Enlightenment: Women's Political Worlds, 1689-1789Organized Politics before SuffragePART II: THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT ORGANISESThe Campaign for Women's SuffrageWomen and the Liberal PartyWomen and the Conservative PartyWomen and SocialismPART III: WOMEN'S POLITICS AFTER THE VOTEWomen Members of ParliamentWomen in Political Parties 1918-1945Beyond Party Politics the Reconfiguration of Feminist Organizations 1920-1979ConclusionNotesSelect BibliographyIndex.