Red Duchess (Kitty Atholl, A Rebel in Westminster)

A pioneering female politician who believed women didn’t need the vote.
A conservative who shared platforms with communists.
A shy public speaker who traveled the world championing Spanish refugees.

The formidable Duchess of Atholl was full of contradictions.

Born into an ancient Scottish family and married to a philandering duke, Kitty Atholl rose above the constraints of class and convention to become a tireless advocate for women and children. By the time she was elected as Scotland’s first female MP in 1923, she was already one of the most prominent women in the country—and she would soon shock Westminster with her outspoken rebellions against her own government.

She stood with Spanish refugees and challenged fascism, visited war zones, campaigned alongside political opponents, and defied tyrants—all while writing her own political playbook.

In Red Duchess, Kitty Atholl’s extraordinary life finally takes center stage—a compelling story of courage, conviction, and a woman who refused to play by the rules.