Sonia Purnell on Writing Women Back into History

Who was Pamela Churchill Harriman? Only the biggest political player you've never heard of.   In this episode of How You Find Your Voice, I'm joined by bestselling biographer and journalist, Sonia Purnell to explore the remarkable life of Pamela Churchill Harriman. Branded the greatest courtesan of the twentieth century and dismissed for decades as a socialite or footnote, Pamela Churchill Harriman was in fact hugely influential behind the scenes. As Sonia's book Kingmaker reveals, she played a fundamental role in shaping twentieth-century politics, diplomacy and power. And she's finally getting her due.   Topics covered The extraordinary life of Pamela Churchill Harriman Why so many influential women have been written out of history The cost of being in the room when power belongs to men  How biography can restore voice, authority and complexity Sonia's painstaking process as biographer What women like Pamela Churchill Harriman still have to teach us today The uneasy echoes of the period leading up to the Second World War and our present moment. This is a conversation about power, silenced voices, the truths history chose not to tell and why it's essential we hear them now.   Keywords Women in history, Sonia Purnell, Pamela Churchill Harriman, Kingmaker, women and power, female biography   About Sonia Purnell Sonia Purnell is an award-winning biographer and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, known for shining a light on extraordinary women history tried to forget. Her books include A Woman of No Importance, the New York Times bestseller about WWII spy Virginia Hall, and First Lady, a ground-breaking biography of Clementine Churchill. Kingmaker has been named one of the Best Books of the Year by The Telegraph, Financial Times, The Guardian, and many more. Sonia Purnall has been called “one of the most accomplished biographers of our time” (Liza Mundy) and brings journalistic rigour, vivid storytelling, and feminist insight to all her work.