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adelita18's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.75
sbauer378's review
5.0
Best book yet by Nancy Goldstone! She has such a way with words, making history come alive and adding witty footnotes along the way. Wish I could give this a million stars.
I love how this author brings to life the stories of women who were truly influential in history that have been relegated to the trash heap by men. The alliance between Empress Maria Theresa, Empress Elizabeth and Madame de Pompadour should never be forgotten. Together, they held true to their alliance (unlike every man in this story, seriously, men suck) and brought Frederick the Great (henceforth to be known as Frederick the Massively Lucky) to his knees. If not for the very untimely death of Empress Elizabeth, he would have become a nonentity and that we are not actively taught this is something I will die mad about.
Absolutely phenomenal read, I really could go on forever.
I love how this author brings to life the stories of women who were truly influential in history that have been relegated to the trash heap by men. The alliance between Empress Maria Theresa, Empress Elizabeth and Madame de Pompadour should never be forgotten. Together, they held true to their alliance (unlike every man in this story, seriously, men suck) and brought Frederick the Great (henceforth to be known as Frederick the Massively Lucky) to his knees. If not for the very untimely death of Empress Elizabeth, he would have become a nonentity and that we are not actively taught this is something I will die mad about.
Absolutely phenomenal read, I really could go on forever.
s_lorenz's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Colonisation, Deportation, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Blood, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Death, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Child death, Excrement, Genocide, Grief, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Incest
mbondlamberty's review
5.0
While I can't speak to the historical accuracy of this text (as some readers have criticized) I can speak to the fact that it was a fast read (listen) and it did a nice job of weaving in a bunch of events and setting up the context for a lot of them. Interesting to this world history teacher.
I also appreciated how they pointed out how women are mistreated in history, especially female rulers.
I also appreciated how they pointed out how women are mistreated in history, especially female rulers.