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Woman, Captain, Rebel: The Extraordinary True Story of a Daring Icelandic Sea Captain
A notorious crime, a lone woman fighting for equality, and the thrills of the wide-open sea
A daring and magnificent account of Iceland's most famous female sea captain who constantly fought for women's rights and equality—and who also solved one of the country's most notorious robberies.
Many people may have heard the old sailing superstition that having women onboard a ship was bad luck. Thus, the sea remains in popular knowledge a male realm. When we think of examples of daring sea captains, swashbuckling pirates, or wise fishermen, many men come to mind. Cultural anthropologist Margaret Willson would like to introduce a fearless woman into our imagination of the sea: Thurídur Einarsdóttir.
Captain Thurídur was a controversial woman constantly contesting social norms while simultaneously becoming a respected captain fighting for dignity and equality for underrepresented Icelanders. Both horrifying and magnificent, this story will captivate readers from the first page and keep them thinking long after they turn the last page.
A daring and magnificent account of Iceland's most famous female sea captain who constantly fought for women's rights and equality—and who also solved one of the country's most notorious robberies.
Many people may have heard the old sailing superstition that having women onboard a ship was bad luck. Thus, the sea remains in popular knowledge a male realm. When we think of examples of daring sea captains, swashbuckling pirates, or wise fishermen, many men come to mind. Cultural anthropologist Margaret Willson would like to introduce a fearless woman into our imagination of the sea: Thurídur Einarsdóttir.
Captain Thurídur was a controversial woman constantly contesting social norms while simultaneously becoming a respected captain fighting for dignity and equality for underrepresented Icelanders. Both horrifying and magnificent, this story will captivate readers from the first page and keep them thinking long after they turn the last page.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2023
167 people are currently reading
2420 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
April 29, 2023
Thurídur Einarsdóttir was a fearless woman who lived in Iceland during the 19th century. She was a sailor first and foremost, then grew into the role of captain and fought against inequality and prejudice her whole life. This nonfiction work examines her life and the lives of those around her, with emphasis not on her sailing but on her struggles on land.
I enjoyed learning about this person in history who I’d never heard about (and would never have without this book). The author did an excellent job characterizing Thurídur and highlighting the known difficulties and challenges that she faced throughout her long life. It was also an interesting look at 19th century Iceland with a focus on women and children.
There were places where I felt the telling of Thurídur’s story became a bit convoluted and difficult to follow. The author’s research was evident, but unfortunately, I think too much of it was incorporated into this read. There were many different instances where the author went on a long, slow tangent about people who were adjacent (or barely adjacent) to Thurídur. Many other discussions of random topics were included, and it was difficult to determine the context of these tangents. This did detract from my enjoyment of the book as well as its overall readability. I think these tales would have been better to be included in an appendix if at all as they did negatively impact the continuity and flow of this book.
I appreciated that the author included a list of major characters in the beginning of the work, which was vital to refer to while I was reading. There’s also a list of references cited in the back of the work, which was greatly appreciated. The author’s research was comprehensive and included many references from several different types of resources.
This was an informative read but wasn’t as focused as it should have been and took some patience to get through. It is recommendable if you’re interested in Iceland during the nineteenth century. My thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Tantor Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I enjoyed learning about this person in history who I’d never heard about (and would never have without this book). The author did an excellent job characterizing Thurídur and highlighting the known difficulties and challenges that she faced throughout her long life. It was also an interesting look at 19th century Iceland with a focus on women and children.
There were places where I felt the telling of Thurídur’s story became a bit convoluted and difficult to follow. The author’s research was evident, but unfortunately, I think too much of it was incorporated into this read. There were many different instances where the author went on a long, slow tangent about people who were adjacent (or barely adjacent) to Thurídur. Many other discussions of random topics were included, and it was difficult to determine the context of these tangents. This did detract from my enjoyment of the book as well as its overall readability. I think these tales would have been better to be included in an appendix if at all as they did negatively impact the continuity and flow of this book.
I appreciated that the author included a list of major characters in the beginning of the work, which was vital to refer to while I was reading. There’s also a list of references cited in the back of the work, which was greatly appreciated. The author’s research was comprehensive and included many references from several different types of resources.
This was an informative read but wasn’t as focused as it should have been and took some patience to get through. It is recommendable if you’re interested in Iceland during the nineteenth century. My thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Tantor Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 1, 2023
In this extensively researched work, author Margaret Willson tells the incredible story of a woman who became a captain of fishing boats in 1800’s Iceland. Captain Thuridur brought in the biggest catches, never lost a crewmember, and even rescued people from other captains’ sinking boats. Throughout her life she fought injustices and cared for others, helping wherever she could.
Willson brings to life the poverty and difficulties of the fisher folk and farmers of Iceland as well as their culture. -Stacy M.
Willson brings to life the poverty and difficulties of the fisher folk and farmers of Iceland as well as their culture. -Stacy M.
January 22, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you are looking for a well-researched, informative, and entertaining nonfiction read about a woman who led an extraordinary life, look no further than this one. Author Margaret Wilson introduces readers to Iceland's Captain Thurídur, a woman that left her mark in the late 18th and early 19th century. Oftentimes, we hear about women who felt constricted by the laws and moral ideologies towards women, and yet Thurídur accomplished so much. I found her to be a truly fascinating person. My only complaint and why I take off a star is because there were times when the book focuses its narrative on other people that I was less interested in.
Publication Date 10/01/23
Goodreads Review Published 10/01/23
If you are looking for a well-researched, informative, and entertaining nonfiction read about a woman who led an extraordinary life, look no further than this one. Author Margaret Wilson introduces readers to Iceland's Captain Thurídur, a woman that left her mark in the late 18th and early 19th century. Oftentimes, we hear about women who felt constricted by the laws and moral ideologies towards women, and yet Thurídur accomplished so much. I found her to be a truly fascinating person. My only complaint and why I take off a star is because there were times when the book focuses its narrative on other people that I was less interested in.
Publication Date 10/01/23
Goodreads Review Published 10/01/23
December 6, 2022
Captain Thuridur, born in Iceland in the late 18th century, survives volcanic 'hell' in childhood to begin fishing the icy Atlantic waters and becomes a fishing captain as a young adult. Perilously navigating weather and the sea to cheat death on a daily basis, 'Woman, Captain, Rebel' she was. What is more, Thuridur Einarsdottir was just a girl from the peasant class - unspectacular beginnings for an amazing life.
In this harsh environment, everyone needed to work hard to live - including women and children. Wilson tells of other fishwomen and women farmhands within this book, in that Thuridur was not necessarily unique. Indeed, fishing was one of the few occupations where pay between genders was equal. However, Captain Thuridur, without any family support, rose further becoming a well-respected leader. Not only a leader of her crew but a leader within the community; seeking justice and speaking out on behalf of the underprivileged. Although generally well thought of, she did have enemies, and her good fortune at times abandoned her. Despite a lifetime of hard labour in dangerous environments, she lived to old age. She never gave up, she defined resilience and fortitude.
Margaret Willson reveals the story of Thuridur's life through a series of interesting tales and events. The notation of family names, cross relationships, generations, and farming echoes Icelandic sagas and their rich, proud history. Although Willson tries to uniquely identify people who often share the same name, it can get confusing as the story moves on. However, her level of detail both in reference to Thuridur and of Iceland at that time is thorough, giving the reader a real sense of what Captain Thuridur lived through. It is nice to know that this once lauded woman, obscured through history, has been brought to life in such a telling way.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks (non fiction) for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In this harsh environment, everyone needed to work hard to live - including women and children. Wilson tells of other fishwomen and women farmhands within this book, in that Thuridur was not necessarily unique. Indeed, fishing was one of the few occupations where pay between genders was equal. However, Captain Thuridur, without any family support, rose further becoming a well-respected leader. Not only a leader of her crew but a leader within the community; seeking justice and speaking out on behalf of the underprivileged. Although generally well thought of, she did have enemies, and her good fortune at times abandoned her. Despite a lifetime of hard labour in dangerous environments, she lived to old age. She never gave up, she defined resilience and fortitude.
Margaret Willson reveals the story of Thuridur's life through a series of interesting tales and events. The notation of family names, cross relationships, generations, and farming echoes Icelandic sagas and their rich, proud history. Although Willson tries to uniquely identify people who often share the same name, it can get confusing as the story moves on. However, her level of detail both in reference to Thuridur and of Iceland at that time is thorough, giving the reader a real sense of what Captain Thuridur lived through. It is nice to know that this once lauded woman, obscured through history, has been brought to life in such a telling way.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks (non fiction) for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 27, 2023
Thanks to Tantor Audio and Netgalley for a copy to review of the audiobook release for this title, which I really enjoyed. The audiobook will be out on April 11th.
Audiobook is often my preference for nonfiction, and this book was no different. I found a lyrical, pleasant narrator in Ann Richardson, who employed what sounded like great Icelandic pronunciation to my untrained ears.
Before this book I hadn't read any Icelandic history beyond vague references in Norse mythology, so a lot of this was simply eye-opening and grimly fascinating. We idealize Iceland in contemporary times, but...Wow, the hardship presented by its isolation, unique geography, constitution of its terrain and more were really highlighted in this book. That served to emphasize Captain Thurídur Einarsdóttir's (name romanized here) fortitude and determination to carve out a living amid an often-inhospitable climate.
For some reason I started this thinking she was a pirate captain, but no, Thurídur was a fishing captain, something just as risky and lauded for her time and place. Thurídur wore trousers often, defied even liberal-for-the-time Icelandic gender roles, and was very successful at the physical work of fish hauling. Time and time again she supported other people even when resources and opportunities were scarce for herself, and all of this combined into a book upon which I found my time well spent.
That said, the book often moves beyond Thurídur's own story to lend social context to her life, and some sections read a bit like an 18th century gossip column. The neighborly and intimate familial dramas of the area are explained with great detail. While some bits are interesting, I think a dearth of written records, and the monotony of life in the area, influenced the writer to really latch on to anything she could to include.
What did spice up the narrative was the bounty of Icelandic ghost stories and folklore presented here! There were creepy happenings throughout the book and more than one local haunting that caused problems through the years. I never realized Iceland had quite so much Unquiet Dead lore and it was fascinating.
Five solid stars to this well-rounded work of nonfiction.
Audiobook is often my preference for nonfiction, and this book was no different. I found a lyrical, pleasant narrator in Ann Richardson, who employed what sounded like great Icelandic pronunciation to my untrained ears.
Before this book I hadn't read any Icelandic history beyond vague references in Norse mythology, so a lot of this was simply eye-opening and grimly fascinating. We idealize Iceland in contemporary times, but...Wow, the hardship presented by its isolation, unique geography, constitution of its terrain and more were really highlighted in this book. That served to emphasize Captain Thurídur Einarsdóttir's (name romanized here) fortitude and determination to carve out a living amid an often-inhospitable climate.
For some reason I started this thinking she was a pirate captain, but no, Thurídur was a fishing captain, something just as risky and lauded for her time and place. Thurídur wore trousers often, defied even liberal-for-the-time Icelandic gender roles, and was very successful at the physical work of fish hauling. Time and time again she supported other people even when resources and opportunities were scarce for herself, and all of this combined into a book upon which I found my time well spent.
That said, the book often moves beyond Thurídur's own story to lend social context to her life, and some sections read a bit like an 18th century gossip column. The neighborly and intimate familial dramas of the area are explained with great detail. While some bits are interesting, I think a dearth of written records, and the monotony of life in the area, influenced the writer to really latch on to anything she could to include.
What did spice up the narrative was the bounty of Icelandic ghost stories and folklore presented here! There were creepy happenings throughout the book and more than one local haunting that caused problems through the years. I never realized Iceland had quite so much Unquiet Dead lore and it was fascinating.
Five solid stars to this well-rounded work of nonfiction.
July 23, 2022
A monument for an „unsung“ heroine of Iceland
Every so often I get to review a truly outstanding book.This historical narrative nonfiction focusing on the extraordinary life of Thurídur Einarsdóttir of Iceland in the 19th century is one of those books. Rarely do we know about outstanding women of past ages unless they belonged to the ruling class. And it is a very welcoming surprise that Willson discovered and was able to research the accounts of Thurídur, whose life started as a lowely peasant in rural Iceland who made her mark despite being low-born and a woman.
By chance records of Thurídur‘s life still exist and adding a lot and in detail of research of times and locale Willson weaves together those historical accounts into a gripping tale. Her prose near perfectly matches the stark landscape and exacting, scarce life of people on this remote island (Let me mention that there are some rough patches where the narrative very suddenly changes course, but overall the narrative is doing the subject more than justice).
I loved how Willson depicts vividly the harsh life on Iceland: the abject poverty, the bone-breaking work, the challenges of fishing, the plights of families and communities, the severe laws governing the country. Willson captures Thurídur‘s love of the ocean, the fishing in open rowing boats, her leadership as captain in beautiful language and with great depth. The evocative images still sing inside of me and I am still shivering with cold by merely thinking about all those long days and nights spend in open boats and no means of getting warm during and after being on the ocean.
And Thurídur - what a wonderful upright, warm, hard-working woman she is and how many tribulations and challenges she has to face. Nothing is ever secure, poverty is always lurking. I still feel her inner calm, her strength, her compassion and her fire and what comes to mind is the old adage of those giants on whose shoulders we stand today: Thurídur certainly is one of those giants who showed what women were and are capable of.
And although Thurídur did admirably a man‘s job and basically lived liked a man, dressed in male clothes and always strifed for her independence Willson avoids the pitfall of putting Thurídur into the pigeonholes of modern gender theory. Thurídur had her own agenda and she richly deserves this book where Willson lets us into Thurídur‘s world and gives us the means to understand this remarkable woman in the framework of her own times and believes. She is a role model that at all times and even in the direst circumstances women can stand out and find their own way.
Thanks for the ARC. The review is left voluntarily
Every so often I get to review a truly outstanding book.This historical narrative nonfiction focusing on the extraordinary life of Thurídur Einarsdóttir of Iceland in the 19th century is one of those books. Rarely do we know about outstanding women of past ages unless they belonged to the ruling class. And it is a very welcoming surprise that Willson discovered and was able to research the accounts of Thurídur, whose life started as a lowely peasant in rural Iceland who made her mark despite being low-born and a woman.
By chance records of Thurídur‘s life still exist and adding a lot and in detail of research of times and locale Willson weaves together those historical accounts into a gripping tale. Her prose near perfectly matches the stark landscape and exacting, scarce life of people on this remote island (Let me mention that there are some rough patches where the narrative very suddenly changes course, but overall the narrative is doing the subject more than justice).
I loved how Willson depicts vividly the harsh life on Iceland: the abject poverty, the bone-breaking work, the challenges of fishing, the plights of families and communities, the severe laws governing the country. Willson captures Thurídur‘s love of the ocean, the fishing in open rowing boats, her leadership as captain in beautiful language and with great depth. The evocative images still sing inside of me and I am still shivering with cold by merely thinking about all those long days and nights spend in open boats and no means of getting warm during and after being on the ocean.
And Thurídur - what a wonderful upright, warm, hard-working woman she is and how many tribulations and challenges she has to face. Nothing is ever secure, poverty is always lurking. I still feel her inner calm, her strength, her compassion and her fire and what comes to mind is the old adage of those giants on whose shoulders we stand today: Thurídur certainly is one of those giants who showed what women were and are capable of.
And although Thurídur did admirably a man‘s job and basically lived liked a man, dressed in male clothes and always strifed for her independence Willson avoids the pitfall of putting Thurídur into the pigeonholes of modern gender theory. Thurídur had her own agenda and she richly deserves this book where Willson lets us into Thurídur‘s world and gives us the means to understand this remarkable woman in the framework of her own times and believes. She is a role model that at all times and even in the direst circumstances women can stand out and find their own way.
Thanks for the ARC. The review is left voluntarily
June 17, 2022
We need more books like this.
I've read an assortment of books within the spectrum of nonfiction lately. All of them happened to be well-written and interesting. Even still, there's a point in nonfiction where it can get droll and textbook-like. I've been lucky. The other books I read were about Pirates, New Yorkers, paleontologists, and Homicide Detectives. This book about an Icelandic woman who marched to the beat of her own drum outshone them all.
I'd never heard of Thuridur before. It's cliche to say so, but the writing transported me to the world in which she lived. I was so engrossed that every so often I reminded myself that this all happened. The richness and attention to detail are so impressive. The amount of research that went into bringing this story to the mainstream is remarkable. One thing that stands out to me after the fact is that we are presented with an honest assessment of Thuridur’s life. After her death occurs – spoiler alert for those that haven’t been on the up and up since the 1800s – we are told of various other documented opinions on Thuridur through the years. As typically as can be expected, they were prejudiced views that presented Thuridur as a head-strong, obnoxiously cross-dressing, “hag” who has issues with men. While the reality is that she was fashion-forward and dressed for functionality over propriety and as opposed to having issues with men, she simply stood up for societal injustices and attempted for equality.
It’s a shame that, for example, I’ve just noticed another book on Lincoln coming out. We have hundreds already. The same people get their stories told over and over again while people who may not have such worldwide notoriety are destined to be forgotten. It’s the way of things but it doesn’t make it any less sad. People like Thuridur deserve to have their stories told because they are a part of the human experience. Lives are fascinating.
I truly commend the writer for what she did here. This is an easy 5-star read for me.
I've read an assortment of books within the spectrum of nonfiction lately. All of them happened to be well-written and interesting. Even still, there's a point in nonfiction where it can get droll and textbook-like. I've been lucky. The other books I read were about Pirates, New Yorkers, paleontologists, and Homicide Detectives. This book about an Icelandic woman who marched to the beat of her own drum outshone them all.
I'd never heard of Thuridur before. It's cliche to say so, but the writing transported me to the world in which she lived. I was so engrossed that every so often I reminded myself that this all happened. The richness and attention to detail are so impressive. The amount of research that went into bringing this story to the mainstream is remarkable. One thing that stands out to me after the fact is that we are presented with an honest assessment of Thuridur’s life. After her death occurs – spoiler alert for those that haven’t been on the up and up since the 1800s – we are told of various other documented opinions on Thuridur through the years. As typically as can be expected, they were prejudiced views that presented Thuridur as a head-strong, obnoxiously cross-dressing, “hag” who has issues with men. While the reality is that she was fashion-forward and dressed for functionality over propriety and as opposed to having issues with men, she simply stood up for societal injustices and attempted for equality.
It’s a shame that, for example, I’ve just noticed another book on Lincoln coming out. We have hundreds already. The same people get their stories told over and over again while people who may not have such worldwide notoriety are destined to be forgotten. It’s the way of things but it doesn’t make it any less sad. People like Thuridur deserve to have their stories told because they are a part of the human experience. Lives are fascinating.
I truly commend the writer for what she did here. This is an easy 5-star read for me.
May 10, 2025
This book is a biography of Thurídur Einarsdóttir (1777-1863), an extraordinary woman who played a key role in Icelandic maritime history. Thurídur served in the role of captain at a time when women were rarely found onboard seagoing vessels due to superstitions. Thurídur lived during an era of Danish colonial rule, volcanic eruptions, and extreme poverty. Willson details how she mastered navigation, accurately predicted weather, demonstrated natural leadership skills, and earned the respect of her crews and community.
The author highlights the political, cultural, economic, legal, and social forces that shaped Thurídur's world. The narrative provides a vivid picture of coastal Icelandic life where survival demanded participation from everyone. It starts with Thurídur’s childhood fishing experiences, then portrays her development into a respected captain, established farmer, adventurous guide, and esteemed elder.
I enjoyed learning about Thurídur and her unusual life. Willson has restored Thurídur Einarsdóttir to a prominent place in history. It makes me wonder what other remarkable lives might be waiting to be rediscovered. Recommended to readers interested in Icelandic history or portraits of strong women.
The author highlights the political, cultural, economic, legal, and social forces that shaped Thurídur's world. The narrative provides a vivid picture of coastal Icelandic life where survival demanded participation from everyone. It starts with Thurídur’s childhood fishing experiences, then portrays her development into a respected captain, established farmer, adventurous guide, and esteemed elder.
I enjoyed learning about Thurídur and her unusual life. Willson has restored Thurídur Einarsdóttir to a prominent place in history. It makes me wonder what other remarkable lives might be waiting to be rediscovered. Recommended to readers interested in Icelandic history or portraits of strong women.
June 30, 2022
Woman, Captain, Rebel: The Extraordinary True Story of a Daring Icelandic Sea Captain by Margaret Willson is an excellent nonfiction shining light on the surprisingly hidden, larger than life Captain Thurídur. I loved learning about her!
This is the story of a fascinating woman that broke many barriers, wore many hats, had many talents, and left a true mark on history. Thurídur Einarsdóttir was testing preconceived notions and expectations of what women really were capable of and where they belonged in a time that really limited women’s roles in society (1777 to 1863).
The author clearly has passion and has done her research. All of this is reflected in her notes, extra points, reference, tables, and lists. It all really helps understand the language, culture, and history of Iceland, its past, and its people.
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I loved learning about this amazing woman, and I am glad that she has a chance to finally shine.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Sourcebooks (nonfiction) for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/10/2023.
This is the story of a fascinating woman that broke many barriers, wore many hats, had many talents, and left a true mark on history. Thurídur Einarsdóttir was testing preconceived notions and expectations of what women really were capable of and where they belonged in a time that really limited women’s roles in society (1777 to 1863).
The author clearly has passion and has done her research. All of this is reflected in her notes, extra points, reference, tables, and lists. It all really helps understand the language, culture, and history of Iceland, its past, and its people.
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I loved learning about this amazing woman, and I am glad that she has a chance to finally shine.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Sourcebooks (nonfiction) for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/10/2023.
August 19, 2022
I picked up this book because Iceland is one my favorite places and I love to read anything new about Iceland, but this book was a roller coaster of 1 star to 5 stars and back again. The subject was great and the research phenomenal. The book just dragged and had a lot of filler about other people that I could have done without. It was when I got to the end of the book and was reading the authors afterword about her trip to Iceland that I realized what I really wanted was a book that retraced the authors journey learning about Thuridur, talking to descendants of people in the book, and a shorter history of Thuridur's life.
July 2, 2022
An Amazing story about Thuridur a woman sea captain that lived in Iceland in the 1800's, who lived her life her way no matter what difficulties was laid before her.
The book reads like a novel that is intriguing and adventurous. The story of the Captain starts as a fisherman at a very young age where women didn't venture, but she did anyway and did very well. Through her hard work and integrity Thuridur was able to become a captain, and her capability as a Captain brought her respect. It was also known that she would go out of her way to help others less fortunate than herself and she would see that justice would be given to them no matter what.
There is a lot of tragedy in this story too, the harsh conditions Thuridur had to endure to survive was unbearable a lot of the time, death of loved ones through drowning at sea, disease and childhood ailments and an unfair government system that view Icelanders as outsiders and not allow a fair share of compensation, but again she manage to get through all of it and live into her eighties.
What I really like about this book is that it puts a light on a women in the 1800's, that no one knew existed and now the world will know and it great.
I want to thank SOURCEBOOKS (non-fiction), Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book about an extraordinary life
The book reads like a novel that is intriguing and adventurous. The story of the Captain starts as a fisherman at a very young age where women didn't venture, but she did anyway and did very well. Through her hard work and integrity Thuridur was able to become a captain, and her capability as a Captain brought her respect. It was also known that she would go out of her way to help others less fortunate than herself and she would see that justice would be given to them no matter what.
There is a lot of tragedy in this story too, the harsh conditions Thuridur had to endure to survive was unbearable a lot of the time, death of loved ones through drowning at sea, disease and childhood ailments and an unfair government system that view Icelanders as outsiders and not allow a fair share of compensation, but again she manage to get through all of it and live into her eighties.
What I really like about this book is that it puts a light on a women in the 1800's, that no one knew existed and now the world will know and it great.
I want to thank SOURCEBOOKS (non-fiction), Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book about an extraordinary life
October 30, 2023
Oh gosh, I deserve 5 stars for making it through this book. I'm giving only two stars because of the writing style and flow and general wear and tear on the reader's eyes.
5 stars for Captain Thuridur, herself, and what she accomplished.
5 stars for Willson's thorough research.
But I thought I was never going to get through. In fact, I started the book in 2022 and abandoned it. I picked it back up in 2023 determined to get through. What helped was reading one chapter at night once a week. Lol.
I feel Willson is so determined that no one in Iceland find fault or error in the story that she cites everything. It is so stilted! This narrative non-fiction will be perfect for an author to read who wants to write a lovely historical fiction book about Thuridur. I will now pay close attention to back covers that comment on the author's "fastidious research". Pages 321 to 392 are all about support for what is inside pages 1 - 320. It's a lot of fastidious research to read.
5 stars for Captain Thuridur, herself, and what she accomplished.
5 stars for Willson's thorough research.
But I thought I was never going to get through. In fact, I started the book in 2022 and abandoned it. I picked it back up in 2023 determined to get through. What helped was reading one chapter at night once a week. Lol.
I feel Willson is so determined that no one in Iceland find fault or error in the story that she cites everything. It is so stilted! This narrative non-fiction will be perfect for an author to read who wants to write a lovely historical fiction book about Thuridur. I will now pay close attention to back covers that comment on the author's "fastidious research". Pages 321 to 392 are all about support for what is inside pages 1 - 320. It's a lot of fastidious research to read.
March 12, 2023
Í nóvember fór ég til Dartmouth þar sem Guðni forseti var með fyrirlestur um stofnun Vilhjálms Stefánssonar, sem er stofnun sem beitir sér fyrir samvinnu á sviði alþjóðlegar þróunar og umhverfismálum á norðurslóðum. Eftir fyrirlesturinn var kvöldverður þar sem Margaret Wilson fór með ræðu og kynnti þessa bók fyrir okkur.
Ég hafði aldrei heyrt um Þuríði formann, en eftir á að hyggja finnst mér það gjörsamlega út í hött að hennar saga hafi ekki þótt verðskulda meiri athygli í gegnum tíðina.
Þuríður var einn mesti kvenskörungur 18.aldarinnar; skipstjóri, baráttukona og mannvinur. Bókin segir frá ævi Þuríðar og er textinn byggður á rannsóknum og efni sem Margaret Wilson sankaði að sér með því að tala við þá sem þekktu til Þuríðar og með því að glugga í ýmis rit. Ég væri að ljúga ef ég segði að bókin væri auðlesin – Margaret er nákvæm og það eru margar persónur kynntar til sögunnar. Ég verð að viðurkenna að það var erfitt að gera greinarmun á öllum þessum Jónum, Sigríðum og Margrétum... Samt sem áður var bókin skemmtileg og er saga Þuríðar hreinlega mögnuð. Þuríður var óhrædd, sjálfstæð og sterk kona sem leyfði engum að valta yfir sig. Skyldulesning!
Ég hafði aldrei heyrt um Þuríði formann, en eftir á að hyggja finnst mér það gjörsamlega út í hött að hennar saga hafi ekki þótt verðskulda meiri athygli í gegnum tíðina.
Þuríður var einn mesti kvenskörungur 18.aldarinnar; skipstjóri, baráttukona og mannvinur. Bókin segir frá ævi Þuríðar og er textinn byggður á rannsóknum og efni sem Margaret Wilson sankaði að sér með því að tala við þá sem þekktu til Þuríðar og með því að glugga í ýmis rit. Ég væri að ljúga ef ég segði að bókin væri auðlesin – Margaret er nákvæm og það eru margar persónur kynntar til sögunnar. Ég verð að viðurkenna að það var erfitt að gera greinarmun á öllum þessum Jónum, Sigríðum og Margrétum... Samt sem áður var bókin skemmtileg og er saga Þuríðar hreinlega mögnuð. Þuríður var óhrædd, sjálfstæð og sterk kona sem leyfði engum að valta yfir sig. Skyldulesning!
April 3, 2023
Nonfiction; biography. This story of Iceland’s most famous female sea captain was astonishing! I had not heard of Captain Thuridur Einarsdottir previously and the descriptions of her and her home were both terrible and inspiring. Especially the first half of the book read more like fiction with an encompassing history and description of the area during the Captain’s life. The superstition and ritual of Icelandic life added to the constant struggle of their work against the elements as well as the influences of various members of the community. The actions of this interrelated group greatly affected the events of her life, from her marriages to parenthood to her careers—so much depended upon either the cruelty or the generosity of the people she knew. Captain Thuridur was an impressive woman and I most enjoyed the passages that shared her time at sea and as a guide later in life. The treacherous sea was necessary for so much of her livelihood and I was impressed with her talent for fishing, navigation, and reading the weather. Absolutely fascinating! The flow of the story was excellent until the last quarter of the book where it started to feel a bit repetitive and could be edited to be more effective. Narrator, Ann Richardson, was so pleasant to listen to! So glad this story about a truly remarkable woman is being shared! Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 8, 2023
While I sometimes feel I live to read and enjoy fiction, I am often drawn to many non fiction subjects.
I am a sucker for the sea: the immensity of the great blue unpredictable waterscape and adventures in whaling, exploring, traveling and surviving are must reads for me.
This book, my daughter saw and handed to me in a book shop. That magic moment of reading the cover, flipping through the pages, seeing it had over 80 pages of afterword, notes & indexing.
Truly, this writing of an articulate scholar, Margaret Willson, has given us a treasure from the Icelandic seas. Here is a beyond exciting, gritty, purpose driven story of Captain Thuridur, a woman fishing boat captain with a keen sense of her physical and mental powers.
The author documents the life of an extraordinary woman born in 1777 who lives into old age, a life filled with adventures and dangers. A nearly mythical goddess pushing at limits that might restrain her, claiming her own agency for an uncharted adventure-filled life.
The bonus is learning so much about Iceland from the late 1700’s into the later 1800’s, fascinating cultural, geographical and political deep dives.
Scholarly and yet infinitely readable. Thank you, Margaret Willson for leading this tour of adventure.
Kudos to Ploy Stipant for the gorgeous, compelling cover art which immediately draws in the potential reader!
I am a sucker for the sea: the immensity of the great blue unpredictable waterscape and adventures in whaling, exploring, traveling and surviving are must reads for me.
This book, my daughter saw and handed to me in a book shop. That magic moment of reading the cover, flipping through the pages, seeing it had over 80 pages of afterword, notes & indexing.
Truly, this writing of an articulate scholar, Margaret Willson, has given us a treasure from the Icelandic seas. Here is a beyond exciting, gritty, purpose driven story of Captain Thuridur, a woman fishing boat captain with a keen sense of her physical and mental powers.
The author documents the life of an extraordinary woman born in 1777 who lives into old age, a life filled with adventures and dangers. A nearly mythical goddess pushing at limits that might restrain her, claiming her own agency for an uncharted adventure-filled life.
The bonus is learning so much about Iceland from the late 1700’s into the later 1800’s, fascinating cultural, geographical and political deep dives.
Scholarly and yet infinitely readable. Thank you, Margaret Willson for leading this tour of adventure.
Kudos to Ploy Stipant for the gorgeous, compelling cover art which immediately draws in the potential reader!
December 13, 2023
Brilliantly readable, capturing Thurídur's spirit and the times and community she lived in.
The book almost feels fictional in its network of distinct characters, the way Wilson captures the difficult life in rural 19th century Iceland, the dramas, sea storms, crimes and friendships.
Some of my highlights:
- How Thuridur navigated the double standards of women, despite her prowess as captain.
- The haunting of her family throughout generations.
- The solving of the robbery case.
- The song exerts.
- Thurídur's reinventing herself in later years.
- Information on the politics and law of Iceland and its Danish rule.
- Countless examples of Thuridur's understanding of the natural world and her physical strength- seriously impressive.
What an incredible woman, an interesting time and an enjoyable telling of it.
The book almost feels fictional in its network of distinct characters, the way Wilson captures the difficult life in rural 19th century Iceland, the dramas, sea storms, crimes and friendships.
Some of my highlights:
- How Thuridur navigated the double standards of women, despite her prowess as captain.
- The haunting of her family throughout generations.
- The solving of the robbery case.
- The song exerts.
- Thurídur's reinventing herself in later years.
- Information on the politics and law of Iceland and its Danish rule.
- Countless examples of Thuridur's understanding of the natural world and her physical strength- seriously impressive.
What an incredible woman, an interesting time and an enjoyable telling of it.
April 28, 2023
Incredibly well researched biography. I was surprised by how much of a record Thuridur left behind until her numerous court cases began. While this book was enjoyable, the vast amount of events depicted tended to be overwhelming in detail. I found my concentration and my interest waning a few too many times to give this book a 4. However, im glad I read it!
January 3, 2023
I had never heard of Thurídur Einarsdóttir before until I read Margaret Willson’s impressive biography, Woman, Captain, Rebel: The Extraordinary True Story of a Daring Icelandic Sea Captain, courtesy of NetGalley. Mrs. Willson has brought to light the story of a strong woman unknown to the world, who braved the soaring waves and freezing Atlantic waters to fish. She has conducted phenomenal and meticulous research, but she is also passionate about her subject. She enlisted a village of professionals, research assistants, and friends to comb through historical documents, photographs, and publications for details on Captain Thurídur’s life and the Icelandic fishing community during Thurídur’s times.
The book opens with an explanation of why Mrs. Willson wrote this book. She was on a trip to Iceland with her friend when she discovered Captain Thurídur’s reconstructed fishing hut. She was shocked to find out that Thurídur was a woman fishing captain, and she wondered how she became one at a time when society rejected female leadership. Ever since, she was haunted with questions, and a quest to find answers led to the writing of this story.
The book has 32 chapters written in chronological order spanning from 1770 to 1863. The story opens with the eruption of mountain Hell in 1783 that brought destruction, hunger, and death to the Icelanders, and with Móri, a male ghost that haunted Thurídur’s descendants for nine generations. Five years after the eruption, when Thurídur was 11 years old, her father took her on her first fishing trip. Ever since, she was hooked.
When her father died, Thurídur and her brother had no choice but to join forces and fish to survive. Thurídur was proven to be clear-sighted, feisty, confident, and observant in reading the weather. People liked her and trusted her advice. They watched her grow into a young woman “peculiar and different” (p. 31), who wore pants at sea and for farm work. It was obvious to all that she had paved her own path and didn’t care what others thought about it. Over the years, she worked as a crewmember for other fishing captains before she became a captain herself for the first time on Pastor Jakob’s eight-oared boat. She also managed to lease Gata, a small run-down farm, which she transformed into a well-maintained and productive farm.
In her personal life, Thurídur didn’t have much luck with men. Her first “husband” turned out to be an alcoholic. Her second “husband” believed false rumors that she had gotten pregnant with his half-brother’s child. Her third husband, blackmailed her into marrying him (she later divorced him.) Thurídur had a daughter with her second “husband’ who became ill and died at the age of five. Her grief made her foster, and later adopt, her sister’s “invalid imbecile” child (p.86), a three-year-old girl, dirty and covered with rashes and lice. Thurídur took good care of the child who grew up to be a chattering and intelligent girl. She also cared for her elderly mother who was ignored and neglected by her siblings.
Through her leadership skills and intelligence, Thurídur earned many friends who supported her when she needed them, such as Pastor Jacob who made her captain to his boat. But these same qualities also made her many enemies, such as the stingy Captain Jón Rich. He had betrayed her when he didn’t lend her money to buy a cow as he had promised her. Another enemy was CC Thórdur who took all the credit after Thurídur had helped him solve a robbery case.
When she was 63 years old, she gave up being a fishing captain and moved to Hafnarfjördur. A friend made her a shopkeeper and a lodger. Later, she became a traveler and a travel guide on dangerous missions. She petitioned the Danish government three times for a pension, but the government ignored her. She died on November 13, 1863. After her death, technological advancements in Iceland drove women out of the fisheries.
This motivational biography of Captain Thurídur touches on many universal themes: marriage and family life, treatment of the elderly, gender roles, societal laws and superstitions, to name a few. It was interesting to learn how these themes applied to Thurídur’s life. For example:
a) Only landowners and farm-leaseholders could wed. That’s why, many men married older women, usually widows who had inherited a leasehold farm from their dead husbands. Such marriages helped both parties: the woman would have a free farmhand, and the man would be the new leaseholder. When a man wedded, by law, his wife became his possession, and no one could interfere, no matter how badly he treated her. Some couples would live together without being married. Although the Icelandic authorities frowned upon such arrangements, they tolerated it as long as the couple had a leasehold farm to sustain themselves. Thurídur was smart enough to live with her first two men without being married to them.
b) Single women were usually unable to support their family alone. Accordingly, the authorities separated such families in order to avoid having to support them. The mothers would work as contracted farmhands and the children would be auctioned off to a farmer, unless someone could foster them. These children officially became paupers with no protection or personal rights. Often, they were humiliated, abused, and beaten until they either became disabled or died. That’s why, after their father died, Thurídur and her brother took up fishing to support their mother and sister.
c) Older people who depended on their adult children were often maltreated. Caring for older parents meant providing food and servants to look after them, when you could barely feed your own family. Elderly people who had no offspring or family ties most likely ended up becoming paupers. Thurídur was the only one of her siblings who took care of their aged mother. Thurídur was blessed with good health and the strength to c continue working in her old age until the day she died.
d) Thurídur asserted her independence by using the court system to fight for her rights. She sued her wrongdoers such as Ólafur Jónsson who had insulted and threatened her through his speech and writings. She also sued on behalf of others, particularly abused women.
Besides learning about Icelandic society in Thurídur's times, I also liked how Mrs. Willson weaved historical events into the narrative. Some examples are:
a) The 1783 Hell eruption. It started off with a blue haze that covered the earth in late May of that year. During early June, the locals felt earthquakes rattle the ground and witnessed flames shoot thousands of feet into the air. This lasted eight months bringing widespread famine because the volcanic ash from the eruption had poisoned the land and the sea. Crops, animals, fish, and people died in the thousands. The sad thing was that Denmark's King did not offer any aid at all to the Icelanders.
b) The Great Flood of January 9, 1799. That night, when everyone was asleep, a storm ripped through the land, flooding farmhouses and storage buildings. Local residents battled the storm to save what they could. But between the strong winds and the floods that washed out their belongings, they did not stand a chance. The flood caused miles of devastation, death to many farm animals, and destruction of many boats.
c) The measles epidemic of 1846. In May of that year, “a European sailing ship arrived at Hafnarfjördur carrying some Danes infected with measles” (p. 237). Icelanders had no vaccination against measles, and so the virus spread quickly everywhere. By the time this epidemic died down in December, it had killed 2 percent of Iceland’s entire population.
Mrs. Willson’s fishing background was invaluable to this book. She spent much of her youth in a small fishing community on the Oregon Coast, where she worked as a deckhand on a salmon boat. Later, she fished for rock lobsters and dived for abalone. Armed with hands-on fishing experience and painstaking research, she crafted the captivating account of Captain Thurídur’s life.
Thurídur Einarsdóttir was a highly respected seawoman captain who was renowned not only for her fishing and weather-reading abilities, but also for her observational skills. She had a stellar reputation for being independent, clever, strong-willed, compassionate, and clear-sighted. Her leadership skills were an example of bravery and courage that I admire. Historians, fishing fans, and women readers will find her story inspirational. This book will make an excellent movie adaptation too.
The book opens with an explanation of why Mrs. Willson wrote this book. She was on a trip to Iceland with her friend when she discovered Captain Thurídur’s reconstructed fishing hut. She was shocked to find out that Thurídur was a woman fishing captain, and she wondered how she became one at a time when society rejected female leadership. Ever since, she was haunted with questions, and a quest to find answers led to the writing of this story.
The book has 32 chapters written in chronological order spanning from 1770 to 1863. The story opens with the eruption of mountain Hell in 1783 that brought destruction, hunger, and death to the Icelanders, and with Móri, a male ghost that haunted Thurídur’s descendants for nine generations. Five years after the eruption, when Thurídur was 11 years old, her father took her on her first fishing trip. Ever since, she was hooked.
When her father died, Thurídur and her brother had no choice but to join forces and fish to survive. Thurídur was proven to be clear-sighted, feisty, confident, and observant in reading the weather. People liked her and trusted her advice. They watched her grow into a young woman “peculiar and different” (p. 31), who wore pants at sea and for farm work. It was obvious to all that she had paved her own path and didn’t care what others thought about it. Over the years, she worked as a crewmember for other fishing captains before she became a captain herself for the first time on Pastor Jakob’s eight-oared boat. She also managed to lease Gata, a small run-down farm, which she transformed into a well-maintained and productive farm.
In her personal life, Thurídur didn’t have much luck with men. Her first “husband” turned out to be an alcoholic. Her second “husband” believed false rumors that she had gotten pregnant with his half-brother’s child. Her third husband, blackmailed her into marrying him (she later divorced him.) Thurídur had a daughter with her second “husband’ who became ill and died at the age of five. Her grief made her foster, and later adopt, her sister’s “invalid imbecile” child (p.86), a three-year-old girl, dirty and covered with rashes and lice. Thurídur took good care of the child who grew up to be a chattering and intelligent girl. She also cared for her elderly mother who was ignored and neglected by her siblings.
Through her leadership skills and intelligence, Thurídur earned many friends who supported her when she needed them, such as Pastor Jacob who made her captain to his boat. But these same qualities also made her many enemies, such as the stingy Captain Jón Rich. He had betrayed her when he didn’t lend her money to buy a cow as he had promised her. Another enemy was CC Thórdur who took all the credit after Thurídur had helped him solve a robbery case.
When she was 63 years old, she gave up being a fishing captain and moved to Hafnarfjördur. A friend made her a shopkeeper and a lodger. Later, she became a traveler and a travel guide on dangerous missions. She petitioned the Danish government three times for a pension, but the government ignored her. She died on November 13, 1863. After her death, technological advancements in Iceland drove women out of the fisheries.
This motivational biography of Captain Thurídur touches on many universal themes: marriage and family life, treatment of the elderly, gender roles, societal laws and superstitions, to name a few. It was interesting to learn how these themes applied to Thurídur’s life. For example:
a) Only landowners and farm-leaseholders could wed. That’s why, many men married older women, usually widows who had inherited a leasehold farm from their dead husbands. Such marriages helped both parties: the woman would have a free farmhand, and the man would be the new leaseholder. When a man wedded, by law, his wife became his possession, and no one could interfere, no matter how badly he treated her. Some couples would live together without being married. Although the Icelandic authorities frowned upon such arrangements, they tolerated it as long as the couple had a leasehold farm to sustain themselves. Thurídur was smart enough to live with her first two men without being married to them.
b) Single women were usually unable to support their family alone. Accordingly, the authorities separated such families in order to avoid having to support them. The mothers would work as contracted farmhands and the children would be auctioned off to a farmer, unless someone could foster them. These children officially became paupers with no protection or personal rights. Often, they were humiliated, abused, and beaten until they either became disabled or died. That’s why, after their father died, Thurídur and her brother took up fishing to support their mother and sister.
c) Older people who depended on their adult children were often maltreated. Caring for older parents meant providing food and servants to look after them, when you could barely feed your own family. Elderly people who had no offspring or family ties most likely ended up becoming paupers. Thurídur was the only one of her siblings who took care of their aged mother. Thurídur was blessed with good health and the strength to c continue working in her old age until the day she died.
d) Thurídur asserted her independence by using the court system to fight for her rights. She sued her wrongdoers such as Ólafur Jónsson who had insulted and threatened her through his speech and writings. She also sued on behalf of others, particularly abused women.
Besides learning about Icelandic society in Thurídur's times, I also liked how Mrs. Willson weaved historical events into the narrative. Some examples are:
a) The 1783 Hell eruption. It started off with a blue haze that covered the earth in late May of that year. During early June, the locals felt earthquakes rattle the ground and witnessed flames shoot thousands of feet into the air. This lasted eight months bringing widespread famine because the volcanic ash from the eruption had poisoned the land and the sea. Crops, animals, fish, and people died in the thousands. The sad thing was that Denmark's King did not offer any aid at all to the Icelanders.
b) The Great Flood of January 9, 1799. That night, when everyone was asleep, a storm ripped through the land, flooding farmhouses and storage buildings. Local residents battled the storm to save what they could. But between the strong winds and the floods that washed out their belongings, they did not stand a chance. The flood caused miles of devastation, death to many farm animals, and destruction of many boats.
c) The measles epidemic of 1846. In May of that year, “a European sailing ship arrived at Hafnarfjördur carrying some Danes infected with measles” (p. 237). Icelanders had no vaccination against measles, and so the virus spread quickly everywhere. By the time this epidemic died down in December, it had killed 2 percent of Iceland’s entire population.
Mrs. Willson’s fishing background was invaluable to this book. She spent much of her youth in a small fishing community on the Oregon Coast, where she worked as a deckhand on a salmon boat. Later, she fished for rock lobsters and dived for abalone. Armed with hands-on fishing experience and painstaking research, she crafted the captivating account of Captain Thurídur’s life.
Thurídur Einarsdóttir was a highly respected seawoman captain who was renowned not only for her fishing and weather-reading abilities, but also for her observational skills. She had a stellar reputation for being independent, clever, strong-willed, compassionate, and clear-sighted. Her leadership skills were an example of bravery and courage that I admire. Historians, fishing fans, and women readers will find her story inspirational. This book will make an excellent movie adaptation too.
August 19, 2025
BAMF. What a role model. The ghost elements and future-telling dreams are strange to me.
December 27, 2022
But a very interesting book I learned a lot about Icelandic history but this woman named THURIDO Or was a very courageous woman In her time. She stood up to the men on the island During the Wait Seventeen hundred And the early 1800s. She had to face a lot of problems and courageous and stuff and I learned a lot about Even in a male dominant area. She is awesome with amazing farmhand as well. There's interesting how she looked at marriage and how that did not work out for her. She was also very courageous too she bought for people who needed help. She also wrote to Denmark For help and they do not help her all. She looked out for specially the women on the island who did not have much of a voice. And she wrote she was the captain of the boats and she never lost anybody because she had a special prayer when they went out. This book is also like He murmured the street because these were ghosts as well In the book and these ghosts were originally real people who Do not get help And who died eventually. There was a lot of starvation on the On the island.. These islandic people were very strong and Knew how to survive. The fishing was the most important because they based that economy on that Had to farm as well because they needed t Provide food for the animals and for themselves. THURDO Was very useful and she would do everything to keep herself going with no man in sight.. She had to fight a lot of people as well because they were very angry all the time ever. But she always but she always Made it through She was very smart in the brain. She also took care of her people she who needed help..
November 28, 2022
This book is basically Forrest Gump, only the main character is a woman, born in Iceland in the 1700s, and doesn't fight in any wars. I mean this in the most positive way possible.
Woman, Captain, Rebel follows the life of Thuridur Einarsdóttir. She was a woman born in Iceland in 1777. She would lead an amazing life which saw her become a sea captain, landholder, repeated litigant, shop worker, and probably a few other things I am missing. Very often, authors will hold up a person as having a varied and exceptional life. Thuridur truly did and what made it even more extraordinary is that she very often ended up destitute and clawed her way back.
More than just a biography, this is the story of a small Icelandic town and their way of life. In just telling Thuridur's story, Margaret Willson actually writes a very strong history of Iceland and vividly portrays the challenges of their day to day lives. This book has a lot going for it and it never seemed to slow down.
(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and Sourcebooks.)
Woman, Captain, Rebel follows the life of Thuridur Einarsdóttir. She was a woman born in Iceland in 1777. She would lead an amazing life which saw her become a sea captain, landholder, repeated litigant, shop worker, and probably a few other things I am missing. Very often, authors will hold up a person as having a varied and exceptional life. Thuridur truly did and what made it even more extraordinary is that she very often ended up destitute and clawed her way back.
More than just a biography, this is the story of a small Icelandic town and their way of life. In just telling Thuridur's story, Margaret Willson actually writes a very strong history of Iceland and vividly portrays the challenges of their day to day lives. This book has a lot going for it and it never seemed to slow down.
(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and Sourcebooks.)
April 1, 2023
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley and listened to it as an Audiobook.
I enjoyed the content of this book and learning about Captain Thurídur and her journey as a sea captain. I also enjoyed learning so much about her culture and how Thurdir really represents the struggles of many women. I have also never heard of her before, so this was a unique story for me to hear!
As an audiobook, I found it a little lacking. The narrator does not differentiate between different people speaking so I often had to back peddle and listen again. The switching between several peoples stories in one chapter could also be confusing. With how much I had to pay attention to this title I think I would have preferred this as a physical book I could sit with rather than a book I listened to as I did other things.
I enjoyed the content of this book and learning about Captain Thurídur and her journey as a sea captain. I also enjoyed learning so much about her culture and how Thurdir really represents the struggles of many women. I have also never heard of her before, so this was a unique story for me to hear!
As an audiobook, I found it a little lacking. The narrator does not differentiate between different people speaking so I often had to back peddle and listen again. The switching between several peoples stories in one chapter could also be confusing. With how much I had to pay attention to this title I think I would have preferred this as a physical book I could sit with rather than a book I listened to as I did other things.
June 26, 2023
I really enjoyed learning about Captain Thurídur’s life and accomplishments. Most surprising, I think, was the sheer amount of primary source material that Margaret Willson had to work with. Apparently, Thurídur and others of her time left plenty of records so her life was more well documented than the lives of most humans in the 1700s and 1800s. Thurídur truly was a remarkable woman, not only for (successfully) captaining a fishing boat in the freezing seas off southwest Iceland, wearing trousers (!), or guiding travelers through perilous snowstorms in her advanced age, but for her compassion and empathy for those who had less than she did. I loved that she often sacrificed her own well being to help those less fortunate, including abused women, children with physical and/or mental disabilities, and paupers.
November 13, 2022
Enter the land of ice and fire with its dependence on the icy sea and threatened by storms, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. Into this harsh environment with laws and traditions unchanged for centuries was a woman who was as excellent in fishing as she was at farming but hobbled by her gender. Probably no worse than others of her gender but far less willing to accept it for herself. Meticulous research and a cohesive presentation make this a truly readably yet scholarly book. An excellent read!
I requested and received an EARC from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received an EARC from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. Thank you!
January 17, 2024
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. I liked the tangents about the other people in the town and about the ghosts and songs Icelandic people recite. We are really lucky to have these records and can get a glimpse into Iceland life in the early 1800s. Very enjoyable.
February 21, 2024
Excellent biography of an incredible woman. The writing helped put you in Thuridur’s shoes. She bounced back from so many hardships yet didn’t lose her principles and truly acted selflessly while creating a unique path through life. We need more accounts of remarkable women like this.
March 13, 2023
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book. The ethnography of life in an Icelandic fishing village in the early 1800’s was unforgettable. Life then was unbelievably hard for everyone except the wealthy. People fished in open row boats in even the worst stormy weather, and faced starvation during the non-fishing months. You couldn’t get married unless you had a lease on a farm. Women fared much worse than men, of course. It was a pretty bleak existence.
The subject of the book was equally unforgettable. At an early age, Thuridur became an expert fisherwoman, outperforming all of the men and adults. She eventually became captain of a fishing boat herself, and could purchase her own leaseholds for farms. She dressed like a man throughout her whole life, was married and had a child who died young. Most fascinating of all, she was a real person, so this is a biography, not a novel.
If you ever looked for an example of a woman who was smarter, stronger, braver and more capable than the men in her community, here she is. However, we can guess how she was treated. Not with respect, naturally, but with envy, mistrust and sabotage. Yet throughout she was forgiving, and went out of her way to defend and protect the weak. The author presents Thuridur almost like a saint, or a Superwoman. I just kept shaking my head in disbelief while reading. If she had been male, who knows what she might have become? Any reader with even a smattering of feminist inclination will be outraged by the way she was treated.
My only complaint about the book was that it could have been trimmed in length without doing any damage to the story. It contained lots of details about people in the community rather than Thuridur herself. Many of the men were named Jon; a lot of other people had names that started with “Thur”, so it was hard for a non-Icelandic reader like me to keep them all straight. The book traced several generations, so that made it even harder to remember who was related to whom (or why a reader should care).
I came to truly admire both Thuridur and the author for her careful research and excellent portrayal of this amazing woman.
Some interesting things I learned about Old Iceland:
* The diet of the poor consisted mostly of dried fish and milk. Occasionally they could afford some butter.
* Their huts were warmed by an open fire (when they were lucky), so the interiors were smoky and damaged the lungs of people. Huts were dark, too, as they were lit by only a small window.
* People slept naked most of the time.
* Tea and coffee had not yet arrived to the island.
*. Men often married women many years (or even decades) their senior, especially if there were economic advantages.
* The elderly or disabled were sometimes starved by their families. Getting old was often a scary and dangerous thing.
* It was common to take in children and foster them.
* Women could get divorces and own property. They could sue men in court.
* Poor women wore two black wool skirts, one on top of the other.
* Denmark was a very strict ruler over Iceland, keeping top positions and educational opportunities for Danes. (The Danish government refused to give Thuridur the pension that was common for most retired sea captains, and she had no recourse except repeated requests.)
* When fishermen came in from the sea in the afternoon, the women of the household dried out their sea skins (the protection they wore in boats) for them. For a fisherwoman like Thuridur, nobody did this for her, even though she was the primary breadwinner.
The subject of the book was equally unforgettable. At an early age, Thuridur became an expert fisherwoman, outperforming all of the men and adults. She eventually became captain of a fishing boat herself, and could purchase her own leaseholds for farms. She dressed like a man throughout her whole life, was married and had a child who died young. Most fascinating of all, she was a real person, so this is a biography, not a novel.
If you ever looked for an example of a woman who was smarter, stronger, braver and more capable than the men in her community, here she is. However, we can guess how she was treated. Not with respect, naturally, but with envy, mistrust and sabotage. Yet throughout she was forgiving, and went out of her way to defend and protect the weak. The author presents Thuridur almost like a saint, or a Superwoman. I just kept shaking my head in disbelief while reading. If she had been male, who knows what she might have become? Any reader with even a smattering of feminist inclination will be outraged by the way she was treated.
My only complaint about the book was that it could have been trimmed in length without doing any damage to the story. It contained lots of details about people in the community rather than Thuridur herself. Many of the men were named Jon; a lot of other people had names that started with “Thur”, so it was hard for a non-Icelandic reader like me to keep them all straight. The book traced several generations, so that made it even harder to remember who was related to whom (or why a reader should care).
I came to truly admire both Thuridur and the author for her careful research and excellent portrayal of this amazing woman.
Some interesting things I learned about Old Iceland:
* The diet of the poor consisted mostly of dried fish and milk. Occasionally they could afford some butter.
* Their huts were warmed by an open fire (when they were lucky), so the interiors were smoky and damaged the lungs of people. Huts were dark, too, as they were lit by only a small window.
* People slept naked most of the time.
* Tea and coffee had not yet arrived to the island.
*. Men often married women many years (or even decades) their senior, especially if there were economic advantages.
* The elderly or disabled were sometimes starved by their families. Getting old was often a scary and dangerous thing.
* It was common to take in children and foster them.
* Women could get divorces and own property. They could sue men in court.
* Poor women wore two black wool skirts, one on top of the other.
* Denmark was a very strict ruler over Iceland, keeping top positions and educational opportunities for Danes. (The Danish government refused to give Thuridur the pension that was common for most retired sea captains, and she had no recourse except repeated requests.)
* When fishermen came in from the sea in the afternoon, the women of the household dried out their sea skins (the protection they wore in boats) for them. For a fisherwoman like Thuridur, nobody did this for her, even though she was the primary breadwinner.
January 31, 2023
Full review at: https://readingourshelves.wordpress.c...
This is the story of Thurídur Einarsdóttir, who was born on the Southwest shores of Iceland in the late 1700s. She lived a long life, from 1777 to 1863, and spent all of it in roughly the same region. (Although she did take to traveling in her later years, it was all still within Iceland).
Thurídur was born to a poor family, and while she was very young, the area suffered from a volcanic ash-induced famine. Her dad refused a lodger, as they had no food in the house to offer him, but this was a cardinal sin in their culture. The lodger supposedly cursed his family for nine generations.
And here our story begins.
Despite the curse, Thurídur did fairly well for herself. She learned to fish as a young teen, and developed a knack for being able to read the coming weather. As her fishing skills grew, she became highly sought after as a deckhand, and even outearned many men on her boats. She was eventually hired to captain other people’s boats, even, and was trusted among the boat owners and the fishermen (and women) under her care. In fact, in 52 years of fishing, it is said that she never lost a crew member.
While she did not have much trouble getting her crew to respect her knowledge of the sea, she still did face some discrimination in life. She was known to wear trousers everywhere except to church, and later she added a top hat to her ensemble (just because she liked it!). She also did a lot of farming when it was the season for it, and could scythe hay with the strongest of men. So of course, some were put off by her way of living.
She was married a few times, and had one daughter who died in childhood. She later adopted her sister’s daughter, who was disabled. In her later years, she spent all of her money trying to make sure her niece would be taken care of after her own death… and that niece did live to be 89 years old!
We spend a lot of time in her home village getting to know all the townspeople, as she does interact with them constantly – both on land and at sea. So by the time a very brazen robbery happens, we have established that Thurídur knows everyone. A county commissioner is sent to town to investigate, and – not knowing the townspeople himself – immediately pushes her for her thoughts on it. (This set-up definitely made me think of the BBC’s “Broadchurch.” Anyone else?) She doesn’t want to implicate her friends, but starts pointing out clues the commissioner missed. This leads to confessions, and four area men being sent to prison in Denmark (which ruled over Iceland at the time).
After the convictions, Thurídur has a tougher time with her neighbors. Several make threats, and someone even goes so far as to set fire to a boat in her care. She still has many allies, also, and they try to help her. Eventually, she is forced to move to a bigger city nearby, where she starts out working in a shop. She also starts acting as a tour guide, leading travelers through the nearby mountains to other villages and cities. She remains lively and sharp into old age, but ultimately ends up destitute anyway (because she spends all her money on her niece).
This is a great story, and well written. There is drama, action, and politics.
This is the story of Thurídur Einarsdóttir, who was born on the Southwest shores of Iceland in the late 1700s. She lived a long life, from 1777 to 1863, and spent all of it in roughly the same region. (Although she did take to traveling in her later years, it was all still within Iceland).
Thurídur was born to a poor family, and while she was very young, the area suffered from a volcanic ash-induced famine. Her dad refused a lodger, as they had no food in the house to offer him, but this was a cardinal sin in their culture. The lodger supposedly cursed his family for nine generations.
And here our story begins.
Despite the curse, Thurídur did fairly well for herself. She learned to fish as a young teen, and developed a knack for being able to read the coming weather. As her fishing skills grew, she became highly sought after as a deckhand, and even outearned many men on her boats. She was eventually hired to captain other people’s boats, even, and was trusted among the boat owners and the fishermen (and women) under her care. In fact, in 52 years of fishing, it is said that she never lost a crew member.
While she did not have much trouble getting her crew to respect her knowledge of the sea, she still did face some discrimination in life. She was known to wear trousers everywhere except to church, and later she added a top hat to her ensemble (just because she liked it!). She also did a lot of farming when it was the season for it, and could scythe hay with the strongest of men. So of course, some were put off by her way of living.
She was married a few times, and had one daughter who died in childhood. She later adopted her sister’s daughter, who was disabled. In her later years, she spent all of her money trying to make sure her niece would be taken care of after her own death… and that niece did live to be 89 years old!
We spend a lot of time in her home village getting to know all the townspeople, as she does interact with them constantly – both on land and at sea. So by the time a very brazen robbery happens, we have established that Thurídur knows everyone. A county commissioner is sent to town to investigate, and – not knowing the townspeople himself – immediately pushes her for her thoughts on it. (This set-up definitely made me think of the BBC’s “Broadchurch.” Anyone else?) She doesn’t want to implicate her friends, but starts pointing out clues the commissioner missed. This leads to confessions, and four area men being sent to prison in Denmark (which ruled over Iceland at the time).
After the convictions, Thurídur has a tougher time with her neighbors. Several make threats, and someone even goes so far as to set fire to a boat in her care. She still has many allies, also, and they try to help her. Eventually, she is forced to move to a bigger city nearby, where she starts out working in a shop. She also starts acting as a tour guide, leading travelers through the nearby mountains to other villages and cities. She remains lively and sharp into old age, but ultimately ends up destitute anyway (because she spends all her money on her niece).
This is a great story, and well written. There is drama, action, and politics.
August 5, 2024
Captain Thurídur Einarsdóttir came into the world in 1777 in a small town in Iceland. Always a forbidding and difficult place to live, she survived a famine early in her life and took to the sea to fish with her father at the age of 11. It turns out that Thurídur was quite good at fishing, able to read the water and the weather, and as time went on she was promoted to captain of vessels owned by others. She also preferred to dress in men’s clothing, in trousers, a short jacket, and a top hat, though if the occasion demanded it she would don a skirt. Throughout her life, she was also a tireless defender of those whom justice had overlooked, and fought for her rights and for those around her.
This book is a fascinating description not only of the life of Captain Thurídur, but also into the unique Icelandic culture she was born into. It’s such a small community that if someone slandered another person, it was common to take that person to court and demand an apology and sometimes even a payment. As a 21st century American who doesn’t even know my neighbors, it’s somewhat hard to envision a world where everyone knows everyone else and everyone else’s business going back generations.
It’s obvious that Willson has done an incredible amount of research for this book. I quite enjoyed her narrative style, making this book read more like a novel than a dry textbook. Though it seems like every man in Iceland was called Jón, Willson includes their nicknames as to make it easier to differentiate between them. The reader really gets a sense of how difficult life was for Icelanders and how closely they rose the razor’s edge between survival and starvation. It’s also very refreshing to read a book about a strong woman who definitely lived life on her own terms, societal expectations be damned. We need more books like this.
This book is a fascinating description not only of the life of Captain Thurídur, but also into the unique Icelandic culture she was born into. It’s such a small community that if someone slandered another person, it was common to take that person to court and demand an apology and sometimes even a payment. As a 21st century American who doesn’t even know my neighbors, it’s somewhat hard to envision a world where everyone knows everyone else and everyone else’s business going back generations.
It’s obvious that Willson has done an incredible amount of research for this book. I quite enjoyed her narrative style, making this book read more like a novel than a dry textbook. Though it seems like every man in Iceland was called Jón, Willson includes their nicknames as to make it easier to differentiate between them. The reader really gets a sense of how difficult life was for Icelanders and how closely they rose the razor’s edge between survival and starvation. It’s also very refreshing to read a book about a strong woman who definitely lived life on her own terms, societal expectations be damned. We need more books like this.
January 29, 2023
Woman, Captain, Rebel is an inspiring nonfiction book by Margaret Willson, a cultural anthropologist. This carefully researched book of Captain Thuridur’s life, covering the late 18th and early 19th century, details Icelandic life and reflects on the changing role of women in Icelandic society. Willson’s writing was captivating and engaging, and the story flowed seamlessly.
Captain Thuridur started fishing when she was young and rose to become one of Iceland’s most famous and successful captains. She was an incredible woman who fought for human rights and dignity and challenged the status quo regarding women’s rights and equality. Her mental acuity helped the local authorities solve a robbery they likely would not have solved without Thuridur’s assistance. Willson weaves in local customs and beliefs, family history, and Danish and Icelandic laws and politics. This was a thoroughly captivating book. I plan on reading Willson’s other books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC!
Captain Thuridur started fishing when she was young and rose to become one of Iceland’s most famous and successful captains. She was an incredible woman who fought for human rights and dignity and challenged the status quo regarding women’s rights and equality. Her mental acuity helped the local authorities solve a robbery they likely would not have solved without Thuridur’s assistance. Willson weaves in local customs and beliefs, family history, and Danish and Icelandic laws and politics. This was a thoroughly captivating book. I plan on reading Willson’s other books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC!
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