Ever since pen was first put to paper, literary heroines have leapt off the page, often as literature’s most nuanced characters. Whether plucky and confident, pushing the boundaries of society, or increasingly empowered in their own quiet ways, it is no surprise that fictitious females reveal much about the world.

So, to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, we’ve picked ten of our favourite literary luminaries (in no particular order) to uncover what they can teach us about living.

1. Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Brontë

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” So says Jane Eyre in one of literature’s most famous lines. She overcomes a dreadful childhood, impoverished circumstances and social inequality (as well as the indignity of finding out the man she loves is already married) through a strong sense of self-worth. Described throughout the novel as small and plain, Jane demonstrates an innate sense of endurance, independence and self-belief, no matter what she faces.

2. Joyce, The Thursday Murder Club (2020) by Richard Osman

Very fond of a slice of cake and known for being generous to everyone, Joyce Meadowcroft is a key narrative voice in Osman’s popular crime series. Like Miss Marple before her, Joyce has a keen sense of right and wrong, alongside razor-sharp observation skills. Not afraid to get stuck in, this 77-year-old former nurse reminds us not to underestimate older........

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