Books Designed for Women, Written by Women

As we enter 2026, Wordsworth Editions is proud to introduce a new luxury classics series that places women’s voices firmly at the centre of literary history. The Empress Collection is a three-book hardback series celebrating female writers long before feminism was formally defined.

These novels are not only enduring classics of English literature, they are powerful explorations of female identity, independence, love and moral autonomy, written by women who refused to conform to the expectations of their time. The authors featured in the Empress Collection wrote with extraordinary emotional and intellectual clarity. Their novels challenged restrictive social norms, explored female desire and agency, and presented women as complex, autonomous individuals rather than ideals or stereotypes.

Though written in the nineteenth century, these books remain deeply relevant today. Their themes – power, passion, motherhood, independence and self-respect continue to resonate with modern readers and feminist discourse.

The Empress Collection traces a powerful arc through obsession, creation and freedom – from the consuming passion of Wuthering Heights through the radical act of creation in Frankenstein to the hard-won autonomy of Jane Eyre.

Book One: Wuthering Heights – Due to Release Valentine’s Day 2026

The first title in the Empress Collection is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, releasing on Valentine’s Day 2026.

An unconventional love story, Wuthering Heights subverts romantic expectations, offering a raw, psychologically intense portrayal of love, obsession and emotional freedom. Its release on Valentine’s Day deliberately challenges idealised notions of romance, positioning the novel as a bold feminist classic that continues to provoke and captivate readers.

Book Two: Frankenstein – Due to Release Mother’s Day UK 2026

The second title, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley will be released on Mother’s Day 2026 – a date that carries particular symbolic weight.

Written by a young woman engaging with themes of creation, responsibility and abandonment, Frankenstein is deeply connected to ideas of birth, authorship and maternal absence. Its inclusion in the Empress Collection highlights Shelley’s radical contribution to literature and her exploration of subjects rarely addressed by women writers of her era.

Book Three: Jane Eyre – A Novel of Female Independence – Due to Release in April to celebrate Charlotte Brontë’s Birthday.

Completing the trilogy is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, one of the most influential novels ever written about female autonomy.

Defined by its insistence on moral equality, emotional self-respect and independence, Jane Eyre remains a cornerstone of feminist literature. It presents a heroine who demands love and life on her own terms – a message that continues to inspire readers across generations.

Luxury Hardback Classics Designed to Be Treasured

Each title in the Empress Collection is produced as a premium hardback edition, including bespoke designs by Carmen Di Mauro with a gothic romance aesthetic focusing on popular ‘fantasy features’ including foil blocking, a beautiful dust jacket and digitally sprayed edges that reflect the individuality and power of the text. From exclusive artwork to carefully crafted finishes such as individual patterned end papers for each book, head and tail bands, matching ribbon marker and bespoke designed chapter headings, these books aren’t just designed to be read, they’re made to be displayed and treasured.

The Empress Collection celebrates classic novels not only as literary achievements but as enduring feminist statements.

Looking Forward by Honouring the Past

The Empress Collection reminds us that women have always been writing boldly for other women – questioning expectations, asserting independence and telling stories that mattered.

As we begin 2026, Wordsworth Editions invites readers to rediscover these iconic works and the women behind them. Their voices remain as powerful now as when they were first written.

This new year, we celebrate women who wrote for women and the stories that continue to shape us.