Main content

Olympe de Gouges: France鈥檚 forgotten revolutionary heroine

The French social activist, feminist and playwright who fell out of favour with fellow revolutionaries and was executed at the guillotine.

She fought to give women the right to divorce and campaigned on behalf of children born out of wedlock. But in late 18th century France, her radical thinking proved too much for her contemporaries in the French revolution. She insisted women should be allowed to speak out, and she was executed at the guillotine for doing just that. For nearly two centuries her story was largely forgotten, until she was championed by modern-day French feminists, who called for her to be given pride of place in the pantheon of France鈥檚 national heroes.

Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the life of the French political activist and playwright Olympe de Gouges are: French philosopher of feminist thought, Genevi猫ve Fraisse; Professor Catriona Seth of the University of Oxford; and British-French playwright and translator, Clarissa Palmer.

Produced by Jo Impey for the 91热爆 World Service.

Image: Portrait of Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793) by Anonymous
Image credit: Christophel Fine Art/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Available now

40 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Thu 14 Jan 2021 10:06GMT
  • Fri 15 Jan 2021 00:06GMT
  • Sat 16 Jan 2021 16:06GMT
  • Sun 17 Jan 2021 15:06GMT
  • Mon 18 Jan 2021 03:06GMT

Featured in...

Podcast