THE BOOKSHOP SERIES

An Evening with Sally Smith:
The Women Who Went Around the World

Wednesday 16 July 2025
Waterstones, Unit 72, Midsummer Place
Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3GA
Starts: 7pm. £5

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'How good that the stories of these adventurous and wonderful women who made extraordinary journeys around the world have now come to light.'
– Dame Joanna Lumley

 

Waterstones Milton Keynes, supported by the Milton Keynes Literary Festival, are thrilled to welcome journalist and writer Sally Smith for the latest event in our Bookshop Series. Sally will be talking about her most recent two books, The Women Who Went Round the World and Magnificent Women and Flying Machines, both of which offer fascinating stories about the lives and journeys of some ground breaking women, and provide an extraordinary glimpse into society at very different times of history.

The Women Who Went Around the World covers the amazing journeys of the women who were the very first to achieve a full circumnavigation by sea, land and finally air, beginning as far back as 1767, and continuing all the way to 1963, with the story of the first woman to circle the world in space. From sleeping with freshly cut heads in Sarawak to travelling through Siberia in the luggage cart of a rickety train, from welcoming an Aboriginal Australian into an eighteenth-century London home, these are the tales of the remarkable women who've been missing from the history books … until now.

Magnificent Women and Flying Machines covers the lives of the British women who achieved real firsts in aviation, and includes some breathtaking and admirable stories.

Sally will be talking about her research and experiences in what promises to be a fascinating and interesting evening, discovering the stories of generally unknown and unrecognised women and their pioneering endeavors and contributions to various sectors of life.

 

Sally's books will be available to purchase on the night, and she will be staying after the talk to sign and dedicate copies. All ticketholders receive a complimentary beverage. We look forward to welcoming you!

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About Sally Smith
Sally Smith is a journalist and writer whose love of life has combined adventurous activities with an impressive career. At 23, she was appointed a foreign correspondent for the Daily Mail and spent time in the far east including Hong Kong and Japan. She went on to work for the BBC News in the UK, for ABC News in Australia, was named Business Writer of the Year, and awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship. She has had books published by Michael Joseph, Rigby Books and The History Press.

She has lived on four continents, visited 72 countries and worked in major cities around the world from Cairo to Perth. In her younger days she was Britain’s women’s freefall champion, member of the British Parachute team and led the world’s only all girl skydiving display team. She then took up ballooning, coming second overall female in the world championships. In more recent years, Sally has taken up sailing and has her RYA Day Skipper qualification.

More about Sally: 

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