Harriet Martineau: life of the week

Writer, campaigner, sociologist: Harriet Martineau was one of the 19th century's most remarkable figures. So why isn't she better known? Stuart Hobday introduces a radical thinker who challenged the status quo

Published: March 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM

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Thinker, feminist, sociologist, campaigner: 19th-century writer Harriet Martineau was a pioneer and a radical across a huge range of areas, but it's very likely you've never heard of her. Stuart Hobday tells Matt Elton about a figure who played a key role in shaping the modern world – and wasn't afraid to ruffle some feathers along the way.

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Authors

Matt EltonPodcast editor

Matt Elton is the podcast editor at HistoryExtra

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