NEVER MISS AN ISSUE!

Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form

ABOUT THIS BOOK

PUBLISHER: Canongate Books

ISBN: 9781837267101

RRP: £16.99

PAGES: 288

PUBLICATION DATE:
August 13, 2026

BUY THIS BOOK

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Immortal Sisterhood: 12 Guiding Stars to Grow, Heal and Navigate Life

by Gemma Cairney

For centuries, travellers would stare up at the stars to guide them. Constellations of shining lights would offer a path forward or a way through, delivering courage and hope on long, difficult voyages. Throughout her life, Gemma Cairney has pieced together her own constellation, one which is made up of inspirational women – artists, activists, musicians, writers, mathematicians, mystics – who guide her, fill her creative cup and provide a sense of solace and selfhood.

In The Immortal Sisterhood Gemma shares the twelve women who make up her spiritual sorority. From Grace Jones and Mary Wollstonecraft to Pharaoh Hatshepsut and Wang Zhenyi, these women span centuries and continents, they have experienced racism, sexism, illness, war, and they all offer something different to help Gemma navigate through life. In this genre-bending mix of biography, memoir, self-help, poetry and philosophy, Gemma seeks to introduce readers to her immortal sisterhood, to invite us to take strength from their stories and to challenge us to create our own. Who are your guiding stars?

Reviews of The Immortal Sisterhood: 12 Guiding Stars to Grow, Heal and Navigate Life

'Gemma's mind is a thing of wonder, reading her love for these crucial legacies is like falling under a spell' – Afua Hirsch

'This book reminds us we do not live our modern struggles alone. We carry the unyielding echo of the unbroken sisterhood as the sacred map to our purpose. Our lives are but new blossoms on an ancient, immortal root' – Zawe Ashton

'One of the most creative, inspirational books I have read in years. From the introduction, I was hooked. Like exploding open worlds that will make us all flourish. What a wonderful read. Captivating and magnificent' – Hollie McNish

'The kind of book that everyone should read. It will warm your heart and activate your moral compass. It's an absolute delight and a magnificent read' – Dawn O'Porter

'Gemma's writing makes you feel part of a collective group of sisters: a thriving lineage of people who live on in both the legacy they leave, and in the vibrant and accessible way in which Gemma presents them' – Len Pennie

'Powerful' – Annie Lennox

'The Immortal Sisterhood captures how the stories of Black women and those with politically-feminised bodies are threaded together all around the world. As the USA struggles with what it considers to be history and what stories deserve to be told and retold, The Immortal Sisterhood is an offering to shine light and dance with the ancestors, such as Audre Lorde, who came before us and the elders who continue to guide us such as Grace Jones' – Simone Seales

Share this

Gemma Cairney (Author)

Gemma Cairney is an award-winning broadcaster and writer, her career at the BBC having spanned over a decade. Her first book Open (Macmillan, 2017) was a young adult guide to life and saw her tour across the UK. She is a regular contributor to audio and written anthologies, has judged the Wellcome Prize and hosted the Booker shortlist readings as well as many other literary talks. The Immortal Sisterhood is her first book for adults.

@gemagain | @gemcairn