With a written history largely consisting of male-centric narratives, we have few windows into the experiences and contributions of women of the past. Wives, Widows, and Daughters explores the lives of Czech women during the long 19th century as each generation evolved from a tradition of women’s subordinate positions in a patriarchal society to early 20th century women claiming their equal rights. As with the author’s previous book, (Quitting Bohemia) this book shines a light on the everyday lives of the common people of rural Bohemia who rarely feature in history books. The author presents new research into the cultural norms of 19th century East Bohemian communities with illustrative biographies of local women. These, in the context of relevant studies by modern historians, bring to life the reality of the female experience in an era when women were subject to extraordinary inequalities in political rights, education, nutrition, and a living wage. Readers will follow their unexpected journey to equality.