At Five Leaves Bookshop, Nottingham, Tuesday, 10 May 2022

A new history of a pioneering feminist book promotion of the 1980s, Feminist Book Fortnight, was published as this year’s revived event got underway.

Feminist Book Fortnight 2022 featured events across the country from 14-28 May.

It was launched with a livestreamed event from Five Leaves Bookshop in Nottingham on Tuesday 10 May 2022.

Bookseller Jane Anger and the history’s author Eleanor Careless explored the Fortnight’s history, its activist aims, distinctive regionalism, and relationship with the capitalist literary marketplace.

Feminist Book Fortnight initially ran from 1984-1991, evolving from the flourishing women’s movements of the time. It was revived in 2018 by radical bookseller Jane Anger and colleagues at Five Leaves Bookshop, Nottingham, with events in the UK and abroad.

Feminist Book Fortnight: A Short History has been written by former Sussex University research fellow Dr Eleanor Careless, supported by Professor Margaretta Jolly as part of the Leverhulme-funded project ‘The Business of Women’s Words: Purpose and Profit in Feminist Publishing’.

The history weaves together oral histories from feminist booksellers and activists, original archival findings, and the nationwide network of Fortnight events revealed by the Spare Rib map (developed as part of ‘The Business of Women’s Words project and hosted by the British Library).

Margaretta Jolly, Professor of Cultural Studies in the School of Media, Arts and Humanities at the University of Sussex, said: “It is wonderful to see the return of this celebration of all things feminist, womanist and bookish. It’s equally wonderful to learn more about the history of Feminist Book Fortnight.”

Feminist Book Fortnight ran from 14-28 May 2022. Details of all the associated programming, can be found on Feminist Book Fortnight’s website.