Ethel Smyth – proud and rebellious

Composer Ethel Smyth was a strong personality who stood out in Victorian England. She was openly lesbian and one of the leaders in the suffragette movement, which fought for women's suffrage, the right to vote in parliamentary and general elections. Ethel Smyth was appointed Dame of the British Empire in 1922, becoming the first female composer to receive such an honour. Ethel Smyth was also an author and wrote several books.