The Incidental Feminist: Friend, Foe, Femme Fatale? The Truth About Thatcher

by Tina Gaudoin

Meet the woman behind the politician

'Offers a remarkable new view of a remarkable and still under-appreciated leader' Simon Jenkins

Since stepping down in 1990, Margaret Thatcher has become a cardboard cut-out hate figure or an iconic defender of freedom, depending on your politics. In The Incidental Friend, foe, femme The truth about Thatcher, Tina Gaudoin investigates the complexities of the woman behind the tropes.

Drawing upon explosive new material from the archives and interviews with her contemporaries, Gaudoin reveals how Thatcher triumphed over rampant misogyny and class prejudice to normalise female power and manipulated her femininity, sexuality, and intellect to become the most powerful woman in the world.

Publishing to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher's birth

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2025

Reviews

[gabgab · Rating 3 out of 5]

basically a well-written Substack essay with many witty parenthetical quips. probably very interesting for someone somewhat familiar with thatcher but not a good introduction, more of an analysis focusing on the intimate side of her life. 3.5 solely for the first chapter being called “Autistic Glamour Puss” and saying she probably cheated on her husband. Anyways she was genuinely insane

[John B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect this book to pull me in the way it did. From the very first chapter, I felt like I was stepping into a world that was both familiar and completely new. The author didn’t just tell a story, they crafted an experience. I found myself pausing, rereading paragraphs, and even smiling at moments I didn’t expect. There’s a sincerity in the writing that makes you trust the journey, even when the characters are unsure themselves. By the end, I wasn’t just reading a book… I was living in it. Truly unforgettable.

[Mariana Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me rethink everything I thought I knew about Margaret Thatcher. It’s sharp, honest, and even funny in places. I appreciated that Gaudoin didn’t glorify Thatcher, but she also didn’t turn her into a villain. She shows how complicated she really was driven, stubborn, misunderstood, and impossible to fit into one box. If you’re tired of the same old political takes, this one feels fresh and surprisingly human.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were moments in this book that stopped me mid sentence because they felt too real. The author doesn’t just tell Thatcher’s story, she tells the story of every woman who has ever been misunderstood, underestimated, or oversimplified. I found myself reflecting on my own journey, my mistakes, my ambitions, my resilience. It’s rare for a nonfiction book to make you feel this much. This one did.

[Charlotte Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to read a Thatcher book that felt this personal, but Tina Gaudoin surprised me. This isn’t another political biography it’s a close, almost intimate look at how one woman’s contradictions shaped an entire era. What I enjoyed most is that Gaudoin doesn’t force you to love or hate Thatcher; she lets you sit with the discomfort, the brilliance, and the flaws. I walked away understanding the woman behind the power in a way I hadn’t before.