Who are your favourite female characters in fiction?

[JaneyGee]

I love Eustacia in Hardy's Return of the Native. She is just so sexy and cool. I think it's her detached aloofness that appeals. And also her pride. She never really loses her head over the men who pursue her, and no one manages to beat her down. Above all, I love the way she speaks – that fierce eloquence.

Lizzie Bennett in Pride and Prejudice. So gutsy and funny and full of life.

David's aunt in David Copperfield. People often accuse Dickens of creating nauseating, sexless female characters. Well, maybe some of them are like that, but David's aunt certainly isn't. She's magnificent. The scene in which she kicks Murdstone out of her house is one of the greatest in literature.

Jo in Little Women.
yes, Aunt Betsy Trotwood too
bathsheba Everdene

Probably Kinsey Millhone. She just seems to have it together and does things her way

Ramona Quimby.
She took almost 50 years to age up from 4 to 10 but whatever decade she was in she was the same funny creative little girl with a life full of misunderstanding.
(First appearance in 'Henry Huggins' in 1950, last appearance in 'Ramona's World' in 1999)

VI Warshawski in Sara Paretsky - love this character. She is smart, independent and has principles. Similar to Kinsey Millhone. Love these books.

Nanny Ogg in Discworld books. Also Granny Weatherwax. My two role models.

@JaneyGee My first thought before I opened the thread was Eustachia Vye!

Bloody phone - Eustacia. No 'h'!

I wanted to call DD Eustacia, but unreasonable ex husband said no.

Scarlett O’Hara and Melanie Hamilton; both very different but equally strong and interesting characters, and totally wasted on rubbish Ashley Wilkes.

Maladict(a)

Harriet Vane

Anne Eliot and Mrs Admiral Croft

Came here to say Betsy Trotwood. I love that woman.

Before I read David Copperfield recently I’d have said Jo March.

Was going to say Bathsheba Everdeen too.

Mary Crawford in Mansfield Park. Sexy disruptor with her big harp.

Flora Poste in Cold Comfort Farm. She's the opposite of me in every possible way so I can't help wishing I were her.

All of these!

Dora Chance from Wise Children.

Totally this! My new year resolution is going to be “ be more Gytha “!

And Y to Mary Crawford.

Marian Halcombe. Wilkie Collins wrote the best women.

Becky Sharp. Because I love that she made the best of every situation.

But I suspect I'd actually really want the lovely Anne Elliot to be my friend.

Anne Elliott of course! Plus Lizzie Bennett and Marianne Dashwood

Nancy Drew!

Thursday Next.

Definitely granny weatherwax @EveryKneeShallBow

I like katniss everdeen

There are others

Is that Margaret Thursday?

Definitely her.

And Vicky from a vicarage family.

And ginni from the bell family while I'm on that track

Quite like Matilda.

Lessa from the Dragons of Pern series.

Marian Halcombe, Charlotte Mullen, Lucy Snowe, Harriet Vane.

Yes yes to Thursday Next