The definitive biography of Sylvia Pankhurst, a woman ahead of her times – political rebel, human rights champion and radical feminist

‘A wonderful book … Holmes sublimely illuminates Sylvia’s extraordinary life’ The Times ‘A masterpiece’ Vanessa Redgrave _______________ Born into one of Britain’s most famous activist families, Sylvia Pankhurst was a natural rebel. A free spirit and radical visionary, history placed her in the shadow of her famous mother, Emmeline, and elder sister, Christabel. Yet artist Sylvia Pankhurst was the most revolutionary of them all. Sylvia found her voice fighting for votes for women, imprisoned and tortured in Holloway prison more than any other suffragette. But the vote was just the beginning of her lifelong defence of human rights. She engaged with political giants, warned of fascism in Europe, championed the liberation struggles in Africa and India and became an Ethiopian patriot. Her intimate life was no less controversial. The rupture between Sylvia, Emmeline and Christabel became worldwide news, while her romantic life drew public speculation and condemnation. Rachel Holmes interweaves the personal and political in an extraordinary celebration of a life in resistance, painting a compelling portrait of one of the greatest unsung political figures of the twentieth century. ‘A monument to an astonishing life’ Daily Telegraph, Best Biographies of 2020 ‘A robust and sensitive biography’ Sunday Times, History Books of the Year ‘A moving, powerful biography’ Guardian

"[A] superbly sensitive biography … It’s impossible to summarise adequately a book so magnificent … A sophisticated symphony of intriguing and complex analysis, delivered in mellifluous harmony. It’s a feminist book, as is appropriate to the subject, but feminist theory is used as a scalpel, not a sledgehammer … [A] wonderful book … Holmes sublimely illuminates Sylvia’s extraordinary life" - The Times

"Sylvia Pankhurst is finally having her moment … The genius of Holmes’s fascinating and important biography is that it approaches Sylvia’s life as if she were a man … It’s wonderfully refreshing ... It doesn’t matter whether Sylvia was right or wrong in her political enthusiasms; as Holmes rightly insists, what counts is that by acting on them she helped to make history" - Sunday Times

"A vivid, tender and comprehensive biography … Holmes has produced a towering tribute to a truly remarkable figure. Whether or not you sympathise with her political views, it is impossible not to be awestruck by Sylvia Pankhurst’s humanity and relentless, campaigning zeal" - Literary Review

"A riveting new biography … A big book and an extraordinary life" - Start the Week

"Natural Born Rebel is an astonishing, comprehensive, personal and political cradle-to-grave biography that surely stands alone as the definitive volume on an extraordinary woman: a suffragette, activist and artist for whom sacrifice and suffering were second nature" - BBC History Magazine

"Stirring, sad, extraordinary … In her own time, Sylvia flamed. She was rarely off the front pages for dashing herself against various legal bulwarks and misguided conventions in the way of her ultimate prize – justice and freedom for all … On every page, there is something to amuse or absorb … One finishes the book with the impression that Sylvia lived the lives of seven women in her 78 years ... Those of us living today who do not owe her thanks in some form are very few indeed" - Telegraph

"Such a big life deserves a big book, especially when it is written with political understanding and tremendous sympathy for women in politics" - Tribune

"[A] monumental biography … Holmes’ book brings us in gorgeous technicolour the scope of Pankhurst’s lifelong political activism as it interwove and sometimes painfully conflicted with her personal life" - Counterfire

"Fine and wonderfully refreshing" - The Times, The best paperbacks of 2021