Venus With Biceps: A Pictorial History of Muscular Women

Over the last 100 years, the image of the physically strong, confident, muscular woman has been the object of derision, fascination and erotic fantasy.

She is often portrayed, in both photography and illustration, as a sexy dominatrix, sexless mannequin, or sideshow freak.

In this fascinating collection of rare archival images from the late 19th to the mid-20th century, authors David L.

Chapman and Patricia Vertinsky trace the peculiar yet fascinating history of muscular women in popular culture.