World Muses

The author describes this work as "a collection of linked fictions that are about inspirational women from eighty different countries and cultures. Although it might be described as a story collection, in fact I regard it as more akin to an unorthodox novel. Indeed I personally see it as similar to Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities, but with women instead of cities."
At slightly less than 40K words, this title qualifies as a novella.

Data from author's website.
Limited edition of 117 copies.