Female rulers tend to be remembered throughout history, whether attempts were made to scrub their names from memory or not. Some were benevolent leaders, others were warriors in their own right. Each queen from around the world, throughout the ages, were unique rulers—individuals that were determined to be remembered. And they should be celebrated as a result.
Queens: Women in Power Through History by Phyllis G. Jestice is a glorious overview of the queens we all know and love (or love to hate), but it’s also much more than that …
The introduction of Queens: Women in Power Through History begins with terminology that is essential to know about the various types of “queens” there are and why the term “queen” is problematic. It’s an incredibly important part of the book, and relevant to us even now. Why? After Queen Elizabeth II of England’s recent passing, a sovereign, the collective now struggles to identify the role of Queen Camilla, the wife of King Charles III of England. She is a Queen Consort (although, she is not referred to as such), which is very different to a sovereign … Regardless of the differences, though, one thing all queens share is their duty to produce a heir. Motherhood is a crucial part of keeping a monarchy alive, which is beautifully explained in this book.
Once you’re familiar with what a queen is, Queens: Women in Power Through History takes us on a magnificent journey through the ages. Introducing readers to the powerful women in the Ancient World, taking us through the Middle Ages, toward the Age of Exploration and into the Modern World. It’s a fantastic, informative adventure into learning about the women who ruled and influenced kingdoms!
FEATURING FAN FAVORITES AND VILLAINS
Some of the queens we learn about are not at all unfamiliar: The Queen of Sheba, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Nefertiti, and so forth. However, there are many more influential women you may have never heard of before … Olimpias, the mother of Alexander the Great, for example. There’s a bit about my all-time favorite queen, Boudica. We travel far and wide to be introduced to almost every influential royal woman who had made an appearance in power, and what a thrilling ride it is!
To make things even better, the book is visually appealing with gorgeous photographs and paintings to put a face to the names. 🙂
A NIFTY REFERENCE GUIDE
What I enjoyed the most about this book is how quickly I came to think of it as a must-have reference guide. As an author that enjoys writing strong female characters, it’s always handy to have a glance at women in power and imagine how they would have handled a situation. As an amateur historian who may enjoy learning about royalty a tad too much, Queens: Women in Power Through History tickled all the right spots. It’s merely one of the reasons I’ve decided I need to get a hardback copy (and you should too)!
IN CONCLUSION
I can’t recommend this book enough to readers who enjoy learning about powerful women, discovering exciting facts about female rulers throughout history, and history buffs. It’s an absolutely gorgeous book, well-researched, and timely, too.
Priscilla Bettis
2023-01-11 - 3:49 pm ·Good review! It sounds like a fascinating read.