Sardinia: Women, History, Books and Places

Another title in the Women, History, Books and Places series by Susanna Hoe.

A rich, multi-layered exploration of Sardinia’s unique identity through the stories of its women, landscapes, and layered past.

From the haunting megaliths of the Nuraghic civilisation to the fiery activism of Marianna Bussalai, this book reveals the spirit of an island that has long stood apart from mainland Italy.

Through archaeological remains, ritual wells, and clay goddess figurines, Hoe uncovers glimpses of ancient women’s lives—echoes that still shape the island’s character today.

Sardinia has seen wave after wave of invaders—Phoenicians, Romans, Catalans, Spaniards, and more—but its resilience shines through in the lives of women: landowners, exiles, rulers, and rebels. Among them is the revered Eleanora d’Arborea, the 14th-century Giudicessa who ruled Oristano and left a lasting legal legacy, still celebrated today.

From the Catalan echoes of Alghero to the proud independence of the Barbagia region, Susanna Hoe captures the essence of Sardinian identity—through language, memory, and the tenacity of its women.

Perfect for readers of Island of the Missing Trees by Elif Shafak and A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter, this is a powerful blend of travel writing, feminist history, and cultural excavation.