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Да живеят кралиците!
В историята на човечеството е имало немалко силни жени, които са се доказали като обиграни политици, опитни администратори или могъщи пълководци. Но повечето от тях не са получили голямо внимание или слава. Това са кралици, царици, императрици, които дълго са били пренебрегвани или пък са потънали в забрава, често несправедливо очернени и отхвърлени като фигуранти на световната сцена.
Подценени или демонизирани, представените в тази книга владетелки са живели в периода от 1500 г. пр.Хр. до началото на ХХ век. Групирани са в седем глави според стила им на управление и техните дела. Всички те са тук – безстрашните, яхнали слонове, воини, безжалостните предтечи, предрешените в мъжки одежди бунтарки, енергичните свободомислещи, жилавите оцеляващи и просветените будители. Време е да открием колко могъщи, великолепни, кръвожадни и възхитителни са били тези жени.
Подценени или демонизирани, представените в тази книга владетелки са живели в периода от 1500 г. пр.Хр. до началото на ХХ век. Групирани са в седем глави според стила им на управление и техните дела. Всички те са тук – безстрашните, яхнали слонове, воини, безжалостните предтечи, предрешените в мъжки одежди бунтарки, енергичните свободомислещи, жилавите оцеляващи и просветените будители. Време е да открием колко могъщи, великолепни, кръвожадни и възхитителни са били тези жени.
264 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 3, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up
This was nicely organized and does a medium to okay job of including more than just European Monarchs.
A few biases but not much of a big deal
This was nicely organized and does a medium to okay job of including more than just European Monarchs.
A few biases but not much of a big deal
June 13, 2021
Най-вероятно няма да изненадам никой с избора си на тази книга, все пак става въпрос за могъщи, великолепни и жестоки монарси, само че различното тук е че става въпрос за велики жени забравени от историята.
Книгата е разделена на седем категории, които характеризират различни качества на монарсите и това какви са били според самите себе си или според постиженията си. За всяка една от представените жени са отделени по около 3-4 страници, а в началото има по една рисунка на съответната владетелка.
Историите са толкова различни и коя от коя, по величествени и все пак някой завършват щастливо а други не. Владетелките подбрани в книгата обхващат периода 1500г. пр. Хр. до началото на XX век. Това са били времена когато жените не са имали права, почти за нищо и всичко което е било различно от това да бъде домакиня, чакаща вкъщи мъжа си и бълваща деца е било толкова трудно да се постигне и все пак макар и с много труд и немислими последствие всички тези жени са рискували и са постигнали невероятни неща.
И отново стигаме до времето по което са живели и това което са искали да постигнат и това което им се е полагало, заради това и са останали пренебрегнати, били са очернени, отхвърлени и потънали в забрава от историческата сцена. Само че величието не знае граници и макар че за някои от жените има много оскъдна информация, то я има и все пак няма да бъдат забравени. И ето че авторката си е дала толкова много труд за да ни напомни или да ни запознае с тези бележити и обиграни политици, пълководци, войни, бунтарки, свободомислещи и т.н. жени.
Имаше някои които съм ги срещала и преди, но за повечето от тях прочетох за първи път и съм изключително горда от всички тези жени, защото днес може да ни се струва че това което са направили тогава е една малка крачка, но за тях е било като лъвски скок, който смятам че е предопределил малко по-малко бъдещето на жените и това че трябва да имаме равни права.
От всяка една категория се постарах да отделя няколко от жените, за да ви ги представя и ако искате вие да се запознаете с историите им. Постарах се да бъдат по-непознати като имена, защото те също заслужават вниманието ни.
Предтечи: Тамара Велика
Свободомислещи: Елизабет Австрийска
Воини: Будика
Бунтарки: Кристина - кралица на Швеция, Анакаона, Лилиуокалани.
Оцелели: Катрин Пар, Катерина Арагонска
Образци: Хатшепсут
Будителки: Аделаида фон Сакс - Майнинген, Маргарет Дръмонт, Нур Джахан
И за накрая искам да обърна внимание и на прекрасната корица, която ни представят от издателство Прозорец. Много ми харесва, но и няма как като човек който винаги е имал слабост към всичко кралско. Корицата е дело на Анна Георгиева.
--- --- --- --- ---
Благодаря Ви, за отделеното време!!!
Книгата е разделена на седем категории, които характеризират различни качества на монарсите и това какви са били според самите себе си или според постиженията си. За всяка една от представените жени са отделени по около 3-4 страници, а в началото има по една рисунка на съответната владетелка.
Историите са толкова различни и коя от коя, по величествени и все пак някой завършват щастливо а други не. Владетелките подбрани в книгата обхващат периода 1500г. пр. Хр. до началото на XX век. Това са били времена когато жените не са имали права, почти за нищо и всичко което е било различно от това да бъде домакиня, чакаща вкъщи мъжа си и бълваща деца е било толкова трудно да се постигне и все пак макар и с много труд и немислими последствие всички тези жени са рискували и са постигнали невероятни неща.
И отново стигаме до времето по което са живели и това което са искали да постигнат и това което им се е полагало, заради това и са останали пренебрегнати, били са очернени, отхвърлени и потънали в забрава от историческата сцена. Само че величието не знае граници и макар че за някои от жените има много оскъдна информация, то я има и все пак няма да бъдат забравени. И ето че авторката си е дала толкова много труд за да ни напомни или да ни запознае с тези бележити и обиграни политици, пълководци, войни, бунтарки, свободомислещи и т.н. жени.
Имаше някои които съм ги срещала и преди, но за повечето от тях прочетох за първи път и съм изключително горда от всички тези жени, защото днес може да ни се струва че това което са направили тогава е една малка крачка, но за тях е било като лъвски скок, който смятам че е предопределил малко по-малко бъдещето на жените и това че трябва да имаме равни права.
От всяка една категория се постарах да отделя няколко от жените, за да ви ги представя и ако искате вие да се запознаете с историите им. Постарах се да бъдат по-непознати като имена, защото те също заслужават вниманието ни.
Предтечи: Тамара Велика
Свободомислещи: Елизабет Австрийска
Воини: Будика
Бунтарки: Кристина - кралица на Швеция, Анакаона, Лилиуокалани.
Оцелели: Катрин Пар, Катерина Арагонска
Образци: Хатшепсут
Будителки: Аделаида фон Сакс - Майнинген, Маргарет Дръмонт, Нур Джахан
И за накрая искам да обърна внимание и на прекрасната корица, която ни представят от издателство Прозорец. Много ми харесва, но и няма как като човек който винаги е имал слабост към всичко кралско. Корицата е дело на Анна Георгиева.
--- --- --- --- ---
Благодаря Ви, за отделеното време!!!
June 4, 2020
Very interesting look into some of the women who ruled, but have gotten lost in the history. We follow the lives and times of many queens, some serving as regents on behalf of others, some being the rightful leaders by themselves. I wish that this was organized more clearly (in a linear timeline) instead of these rather bizarre groupings. And also there seemed to be quite a big focus on queens, who ruled in the British isles. Overall, an informative read for those who love studying monarchs and history
October 9, 2024
Why is it that I am disappointed every time I read a book about a compilation of women?
Let's start with pointing out the positives before I start ranting:
1. Marriott did try to include a range of backgrounds and geographical areas.
2. I discovered some new women that I hadn't heard about. If it wasn't for this fact, this book would get a 1 star rating.
Rant incoming in 3... 2... 1...
1. While she tries to include a range of geographical areas, it still feels quite Euro-centric and especially Anglo-centric.
2. I have no idea why the chapters were organised the way they were, because it wasn't obvious at all when reading which category each woman belonged to. Perhaps a chronological organisation would have been better.
3. There are at least 2 or 3 instances with mistakes in the dates. I tend to think it is an editing mistake. But did nobody proof read this?!
4. Marriott gives her opinion, I'm assuming it's meant as a joke, but I really disliked it. Can't people write about women without trying to make it fun? See infuriating examples below.
5. She mentioned Hannah Jewell in her bibliography. I was very disappointed with her book "100 Nasty Women in History" and it is definitely not historical research to use for writing your own book...
Some examples of the silly "jokes"
About Margaret and her brother Henry VIII:
"Margaret [...] mooted divorce to her brother, although Henry was opposed to it (which was a bit rich coming from him)"
About the husband she wanted to divorce:
"Angus (sadly) managed to dodge the cannon balls"
About Arwa al-Sulayhi marrying her cousin:
"she married al-Mukkaram (cousins as marital partners are a popular choice for royal families wherever you are in the world)"
Yes, there is a reason for this...
About Seondeok of Silla, she quotes a cultural explanation:
"according to heavenly principles, the yang [male] is hard while the yin [female] is soft (whatever than means)."
It's cultural, from a different place and a different time period. If you don't understand, it's on you... This comment feels a bit insulting.
About Henrietta of France, whose husband spent her Catholic entourage away:
"to which she reacted with typical teenager histrionics, writing: 'I am the most afflicted person on earth'."
I mean, she is a very young woman who was sent to a foreign country to marry a man she doesn't know, and for religious and political reasons he sends away all the people she is familar with. She then finds herself alone in an unfamiliar place. It isn't "teenager histrionics" and it isn't funny.
About Elisabeth of Austria:
"whose life would end (spoiler alert) under violent circumstances"
"In 1098, whilst travelling to Geneva" She was born in 1837...
About Boudica:
"she is now so famous she could be considered worthy of her own star on Sunset Boulevard"
About Catherine I of Russia:
"Catherine I, a former maid who after the death of her husband became the first women to rule Imperial Russia (way to go, Catherine)"
About Empress Irene of Athens, who was married to Emperor Constantine V:
"Their only child, a boy named Constantine (zero points for originality)"
About Margaret Drummond, who:
"thwarted the King's attempts to marry his latest squeeze."
Let's start with pointing out the positives before I start ranting:
1. Marriott did try to include a range of backgrounds and geographical areas.
2. I discovered some new women that I hadn't heard about. If it wasn't for this fact, this book would get a 1 star rating.
Rant incoming in 3... 2... 1...
1. While she tries to include a range of geographical areas, it still feels quite Euro-centric and especially Anglo-centric.
2. I have no idea why the chapters were organised the way they were, because it wasn't obvious at all when reading which category each woman belonged to. Perhaps a chronological organisation would have been better.
3. There are at least 2 or 3 instances with mistakes in the dates. I tend to think it is an editing mistake. But did nobody proof read this?!
4. Marriott gives her opinion, I'm assuming it's meant as a joke, but I really disliked it. Can't people write about women without trying to make it fun? See infuriating examples below.
5. She mentioned Hannah Jewell in her bibliography. I was very disappointed with her book "100 Nasty Women in History" and it is definitely not historical research to use for writing your own book...
Some examples of the silly "jokes"
About Margaret and her brother Henry VIII:
"Margaret [...] mooted divorce to her brother, although Henry was opposed to it (which was a bit rich coming from him)"
About the husband she wanted to divorce:
"Angus (sadly) managed to dodge the cannon balls"
About Arwa al-Sulayhi marrying her cousin:
"she married al-Mukkaram (cousins as marital partners are a popular choice for royal families wherever you are in the world)"
Yes, there is a reason for this...
About Seondeok of Silla, she quotes a cultural explanation:
"according to heavenly principles, the yang [male] is hard while the yin [female] is soft (whatever than means)."
It's cultural, from a different place and a different time period. If you don't understand, it's on you... This comment feels a bit insulting.
About Henrietta of France, whose husband spent her Catholic entourage away:
"to which she reacted with typical teenager histrionics, writing: 'I am the most afflicted person on earth'."
I mean, she is a very young woman who was sent to a foreign country to marry a man she doesn't know, and for religious and political reasons he sends away all the people she is familar with. She then finds herself alone in an unfamiliar place. It isn't "teenager histrionics" and it isn't funny.
About Elisabeth of Austria:
"whose life would end (spoiler alert) under violent circumstances"
"In 1098, whilst travelling to Geneva" She was born in 1837...
About Boudica:
"she is now so famous she could be considered worthy of her own star on Sunset Boulevard"
About Catherine I of Russia:
"Catherine I, a former maid who after the death of her husband became the first women to rule Imperial Russia (way to go, Catherine)"
About Empress Irene of Athens, who was married to Emperor Constantine V:
"Their only child, a boy named Constantine (zero points for originality)"
About Margaret Drummond, who:
"thwarted the King's attempts to marry his latest squeeze."
January 28, 2020
I didn't like the chapter names. I really don't understand why this author insist on not writing through timeline. A queen from middle age than before christ and then from 20th century. It is hard to keep focused. And most of the queens were English even some ot them were really dull and boring 🙈
May 28, 2024
A good snapshot into the lives of so many forgotten queens in history. Although, I do like how it’s often pointed out that they were forgotten by the west, not in their own countries.
Inspiring how many of them had to strive so hard to make their mark, and how well they did despite the challenges and danger they faced.
Well written, engaging, and notes biases of primary sources well.
Inspiring how many of them had to strive so hard to make their mark, and how well they did despite the challenges and danger they faced.
Well written, engaging, and notes biases of primary sources well.
July 17, 2024
Pouca informação sobre as diferentes rainhas e mts opiniões pessoais não fundamentadas
November 9, 2025
An eclectic mix of mini biographies of a random assortment of historical queens or quasi-queens. Each section has much less information than a wikipedia page and can feel quite unsatisfying if you're looking for detail. The arrangement of the sections is also strange and not all queens seem to exactly fit the chapter label that they are placed under. I also struggled with the fact that the audiobook has several queens in one track (because it's a track per chapter) and there are some queens I wanted to read about again but couldn't easily go back and find their section.
I can't help feeling that I read a better version of this concept years ago when the Princess Diaries' Meg Cabot did a tie-in non-fic book where the Princess Diaries characters “wrote” about their favourite historical princesses. At least then there was an excuse for informality, and the sections tied in with the personalities of Cabot's characters. This book I fear might have benefitted from telling the Queens' stories chronologically rather than by who was an "icon maker" or "rebel" or whatever (especially when multiple queens could fall under multiple categories).
Nonetheless overall there is a decent selection of Queens from a variety of countries, although the book still leans towards the west. It features very interesting anecdotes and I've definitely learnt a lot from it. Maybe some Queens felt more worthwhile than others – like Empress Sisi can't hold a candle to the likes of Boudica and Zenobia and Rani Lakshmibai and so on. However, no woman's life is worth forgetting so it's good that they're all being remembered in their own rights anyway.
The writing isn't always consistent – sometimes formal, sometimes surprisingly informal, and there are repeated words now and then that decent editing should have corrected for synonyms even though they are grammatically correct.
The book is a decent entry point for learning about a variety of important historical women but I would have liked a bit more – both in quantity and quality.
3.5*
I can't help feeling that I read a better version of this concept years ago when the Princess Diaries' Meg Cabot did a tie-in non-fic book where the Princess Diaries characters “wrote” about their favourite historical princesses. At least then there was an excuse for informality, and the sections tied in with the personalities of Cabot's characters. This book I fear might have benefitted from telling the Queens' stories chronologically rather than by who was an "icon maker" or "rebel" or whatever (especially when multiple queens could fall under multiple categories).
Nonetheless overall there is a decent selection of Queens from a variety of countries, although the book still leans towards the west. It features very interesting anecdotes and I've definitely learnt a lot from it. Maybe some Queens felt more worthwhile than others – like Empress Sisi can't hold a candle to the likes of Boudica and Zenobia and Rani Lakshmibai and so on. However, no woman's life is worth forgetting so it's good that they're all being remembered in their own rights anyway.
The writing isn't always consistent – sometimes formal, sometimes surprisingly informal, and there are repeated words now and then that decent editing should have corrected for synonyms even though they are grammatically correct.
The book is a decent entry point for learning about a variety of important historical women but I would have liked a bit more – both in quantity and quality.
3.5*
January 17, 2025
2.5. The fascinating subject matter - women rulers from around the world who have been written out of history - almost ruined by the execution, with vignettes of individuals from totally different eras and locations grouped under very loose themes, making it difficult to go back and find particular ones, especially on audio. Also, the content was very much a list of times and events rather than providing context or commentary. A useful starting point for further reading but not much more.
July 3, 2020
An interesting read on some forgotten female rulers. Wasn’t keep on the chapter names and would have preferred the timeline to run in chronological order. Some of the Queens certainly piqued my interest and i’ll have to do some further reading on them.
December 25, 2022
This was a very enjoyable listen, a well researched history of the Women with the power, and man’s struggle to laud, applaud or oppress her.
Thoroughly good book Emma Marriott thank you, much appreciated. :-)
Thoroughly good book Emma Marriott thank you, much appreciated. :-)
July 12, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring.
July 5, 2022
Light read - great introduction to some of the great women of history.
September 16, 2025
Interesting and wide range of Queen's from global history.
January 1, 2022
I loved this book, I just wished it was more elaborate in some parts (even though i understand that it was hard to do that for 40 queens, some of them with few details).
This author showed in fact many women that I didn’t know and made curious about them and I end it up searching more about that and if that was the goal of this book, it was achieved on my part.
This author showed in fact many women that I didn’t know and made curious about them and I end it up searching more about that and if that was the goal of this book, it was achieved on my part.
March 22, 2023
*insert gif of "Do you think Margaret Thatcher had girl power?" meme here*
A minor quibble to start with: the audiobook doesn't have section headings or indicate when each queen is talked about. I'm sure this isn't an issue in any print format, but it makes things a pain if say you wish to further research a particular queen.
Another quibble is that the categorisation of the queens doesn't quite work as rebels and warriors seem to overlap a lot, and many of the queens feel like they could slot into at least two categories. Would have rather had categories based on how they became queens: born, married, murdered would be a bit more clear cut at least.
But still an interesting overview of some of the most powerful women in history and how they've utilized that power. Also very fun to see where some authors might have been inspired for some of their characters, and also fun to tuck some facts and methods away for your own writing inspiration.
I'd recommend it to authors wanting inspiration for their queens.
A minor quibble to start with: the audiobook doesn't have section headings or indicate when each queen is talked about. I'm sure this isn't an issue in any print format, but it makes things a pain if say you wish to further research a particular queen.
Another quibble is that the categorisation of the queens doesn't quite work as rebels and warriors seem to overlap a lot, and many of the queens feel like they could slot into at least two categories. Would have rather had categories based on how they became queens: born, married, murdered would be a bit more clear cut at least.
But still an interesting overview of some of the most powerful women in history and how they've utilized that power. Also very fun to see where some authors might have been inspired for some of their characters, and also fun to tuck some facts and methods away for your own writing inspiration.
I'd recommend it to authors wanting inspiration for their queens.
November 25, 2019
Vignettes of Queens from all over the world throughout the ages.
October 22, 2024
I like that each story is short, but the fact that it’s not arranged by chronological order drives me nuts.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews