“Illustres inconnues,” a book paying tribute to women

They were empresses, pirates, spies, activists, or even pioneers in fields such as aerospace and medicine… And yet history has not remembered their names. In her book, *Illustres inconnues*, Michèle Flasaquier, an entrepreneur and historian, right this wrong by dedicating 14 profiles to these forgotten women.

The book:

Did you know that without the help of Catherine Johnson (1918–2020), American astronaut Neil Armstrong—the first man to set foot on the moon—would likely never have made it back to Earth? The daughter of Black farmers and a math enthusiast, Catherine Johnson played a fundamental role in the American space program by performing all the calculations for the trajectories taken by the NASA space shuttle.

However, unlike the path taken by the American astronaut, hers was much more winding. In the 1960s, racial segregation was still in effect in Virginia. After being forced to attend a university more than 700 km from her home (the nearest ones were not open to Black people), she had to deal with acts of discrimination on a daily basis, such as having to, among other things, walk all the way across the base to use the only restrooms allowed for Black people—which caused her to be late on numerous occasions!

From ancient times to the present day, in every corner of the world, countless women have defied the customs of their eras and made an impact that endures to this day. Courageous, determined, and undeniably resilient, they managed to make their mark even when society did not recognize their legitimacy.

Another example? Since you’re reading this article on your computer or mobile device, there’s a good chance you’re connected to Wi-Fi. And who came up with Wi-Fi? Hedy Lamarr… a Hollywood actress whose portrait you’ll also find in this book!

The Author

Michèle Flasaquier is an entrepreneur. She founded a digital technology company and led it for thirty years. Passionate about mathematics, she was part of the first class of women admitted to a preparatory program for the grandes écoles in 1963.

In 1980, she was one of the first—and only—women in management at the SNCF’s IT department. Today, she is dedicated to passing on her knowledge. Also passionate about history, she has conducted in-depth research and written this book to do justice to the women who, throughout history, have accomplished great things yet have been forgotten.

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