I rarely look at the WordPress Daily Prompt, but I was intrigued by this one. There are so many historical figures I would like to meet that I decided to narrow my choices. The obvious way – to me – was to focus on French women in history, but which one? Below is a list of ten famous French women who are well-known for different reasons but in no particular order.

  • Joan of Arc – saint, martyr and military leader
  • Marie Curie – first woman to win a Nobel Prize for physics
  • Coco Chanel – fashion designer with dubious links in WW2
  • Simone de Beauvoir – philosopher, writer and feminist activist
  • Olympe de Gouges – writer, and activist, promoted women’s rights and abolition of slavery. 
  • Camille Claudel – sculptor known for her figurative works in bronze and marble.
  • Edith Piaf – singer and entertainer
  • George Sand – novelist, essayist, and playwright
  • Françoise Sagan – novelist, playwright, and screenwriter.
  • Eleanor of Aquitaine – Queen of France and England

There are many other famous French women throughout history who I haven’t included.

How do I choose just one French historical woman I would like to meet?!

How would you answer the question: ‘If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?’ Don’t limit yourself to French women unless you wish to!