Louise M. Gagneur is one of those authors who time has buried. She was born in France in 1832 and wrote many best sellers including An Expiration (1859), The Black Crusade (1865), An End of the Century Devotee (1891) as well as the Nihilist Princess (1881). A radical and a feminist, she wrote radical fiction that was accessible to most people. She died in 1902, her work soon slid into obscurity.

Today not one of her books is in print either in France or the United States. III Publishing is to be congratulated for bringing this popular mid to late 19th century author back to the fore of popular imagination. The Nihilist Princess brought the Nihilists to the attention of a public that was enthralled by the activities of the Russian Nihilists, a diverse band of young radicals that wanted to destroy the Czar, the aristocracy and the Russian Orthodox Church. Through courageous individual actions the Nihilists hoped to create a society that was free of social distinctions, serfdom and the rule of the powerful and wealthy. During the 1870's they struck fear in the heart of the Czar and his entourage.

Princess Wanda a Nihilist princess a relative of the Czar and his family, risked her life in her endeavours to convince the younger members of the aristocracy to accept and fight for reforms. Louise Gagneur has the ability to entwine radical concepts in her populist literature. This finely produced 260 page book highlights the breadth and range of radical 19th century literature. It makes a welcome change from the inane plots that are such a feature of the work of Louise M. Gagneur's English counterparts the Bronte sisters.

Thanks to Anarres Books for providing the review copy of the Nihilist Princess. The book is available post free (Australia) from Anarres Books.