LEAN ON NO ONE is a journey through the achievements and legacy of Elizabeth Garver Jordan, a woman who defined female ambition, creativity, empowerment and above all, lived life on her own terms. As the influence of public media via newspapers and magazines rapidly grew in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Jordan’s innovative approaches raised public awareness of the challenges of social and gender inequality. In her positions at Pulitzer’s New York World and Harper’s Bazar, she significantly boosted journalistic and literary opportunities for women and inspired a new generation through her own articles and serialised short stories.

Jordan recognized how both work and literary collaborations could promote positive change as well as entertaining reading, especially concerning female empowerment. The themes and experimentation in her short stories, novels of intrigue, crime and romance, a play and film productions still resonate with readers today. Her work stands alongside those of her contemporaries with whom she had close personal and professional associations such as Frances Hodgson Burnett and Henry James.

Jordan’s independence, determination and active collaboration in the media, political, literary and personal aspects of her life not only benefitted herself but also many others. Her underestimated contribution needs to be fully revealed and acknowledged.