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

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tina, I only discovered your book a few days ago, but since then I’ve been carrying it everywhere like it’s something precious that I don’t want to let out of my sight. Every spare moment on the bus, during lunch, before bed I find myself opening it again.

The way you talk about Thatcher’s quirks, strengths, flaws, contradictions, and even her quiet human moments touched me in ways I wasn’t expecting at all. You didn’t just describe her political legacy; you revealed the parts of her that most people overlook the parts that make a person real, complex, and almost painfully relatable.

As I read, I found myself reflecting on my own life my mother’s resilience, my mentors’ tough guidance, and even my younger self who always tried to be strong in a world that demanded too much. Somehow, through Thatcher, you made me look inward, and that’s something very few political books ever manage to do.

I didn’t expect a book centered on politics to stir something so personal in me, but it did. It made me pause, think, and feel truly feel. And for that, I’m deeply grateful. Your writing didn’t just inform me; it moved me. It reached a part of me I didn’t even realize needed understanding.

Thank you for creating something so thoughtful, so intimate, and so unexpectedly emotional. I will be thinking about this book and about the woman you brought to life, for a long time.

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly wasn’t planning to pick up any new book this week my brain needed a break. But then Jessica posted The Incidental Feminist in our Goodreads group, and I don’t know… something about the cover, the title, and the little spark of conversation around it just pulled me in.

I clicked out of curiosity, thinking I’d skim it later, but wow, this book feels different. It has that thoughtful, sharp, quietly emotional tone that makes you stop and think. The kind of book that doesn’t shout at you but still manages to shift something inside you.

I genuinely found myself smiling and thinking: “Okay, maybe this will be my vacation read after all.”
And now I’m excited to take it along with me, the kind of book that feels like good company.

Huge thank you to Jessica for posting it in the group you absolutely derailed my reading break, but in the best way .
And a heartfelt thank you to Tina Gaudoin for bringing this book into the world. It’s refreshing, smart, and unexpectedly reassuring exactly the kind of reading experience I didn’t know I needed this week.

Can’t wait to dive in properly.

[Ihab Al-Zarbawy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This book is not just pages about Thatcher… it is a mirror reflecting the contours of power when it wears the face of a woman. The Incidental Feminist takes you beyond the legend, into that space where toughness meets fragility, and politics meets the human heart. A work that amazes you with what it dares to reveal, leaving you wondering: how can one person reshape an entire era? A read that gives you the thrill of a first discovery."
— Ehaab Elzerbawy


---

"هذا الكتاب ليس مجرد صفحات عن تاتشر… بل نافذة تكشف ملامح القوة حين ترتدي وجه امرأة. The Incidental Feminist يأخذ القارئ إلى ما وراء الأسطورة، إلى المساحة التي يتقاطع فيها الصلب مع الهشّ، والسياسة مع الإنسان. عمل يدهشك بما يجرؤ على كشفه، ويجعلك تتساءل: كيف يمكن لشخص واحد أن يعيد تشكيل زمن كامل؟ قراءة تمنحك دهشة الاكتشاف الأول."
— إيهاب الزرباوي


---

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t plan to read The Incidental Feminist. I just picked it up out of curiosity, but somehow it felt like the book was waiting for me. As I read, I kept stopping to breathe because some parts hit me so personally. The way the author explores Margaret Thatcher as a woman reminded me of my own struggles to be understood. I felt seen in a weird but comforting way. This isn’t just a biography, it felt like a conversation with history, with womanhood, and with myself. I’m honestly grateful I found this.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this thinking I’d skim it. Instead, I found myself underlining passages, rereading paragraphs, and feeling genuinely moved. The author writes with such empathy and depth that I almost felt protective of Margaret Thatcher, something I never thought I’d say. This book softened something in me. It made me appreciate complexity, strength, and humanity in a new way. It’s the kind of book I’ll remember for a long time.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me why I love reading. It wasn’t just entertainment it was an emotional journey. The author created something rich, meaningful, and beautifully written. I found myself savoring the sentences, connecting with the characters, and feeling genuinely invested in their lives. When a book makes you slow down just to absorb the beauty of a moment, you know it’s special. This one is definitely special.

[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.