Warrior Women: 3000 Years of Courage and Heroism

by Robin Cross, Rosalind Miles

So George Clemenceau, then mayor of Montmartre, recalled the women of the Paris Commune who manned the barricades at France's republican uprising of 1871. Fighting to the last under a relentless bombardment as government troops stormed the city, they died like men too.

History has seen many such arts of courage, daring, and self-sacrifice by women like these. These traits are to be found today, in the opening years of the 21st century, in such women as US Army helicopter pilot Major Tammy Duckworth, who lost both her legs when her Black Hawk was shot down in Iraq in 2004 and Colonel Martha McSally who flew A-10 ground-attack missions in Afghanistan and became the first woman to command a United States Air Force combat squadron.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Feminism, Reference, Asia, Biography, Womens

319 pages, Hardcover

First published January 22, 2011

Reviews

[Iset · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this at the same time as Antonia Fraser's Warrior Queens and I have to say the parallels in the early chapters were stark. Maybe that's because there's only so many ancient historical figures one can talk about on this topic, but even the order in which they were presented matched up. However, taking the book as a whole, Warrior Women examines a lot more figures in total, particularly in the modern era - but the entries are shorter, whereas Fraser goes into considerably more depth. Also, I spotted two glaring errors - referring to Semiramis battling Alexander the Great (they lived 500 years apart!), and the claim that Edward II cruelly neglected his wife Isabella (hoo boy, Kathryn Warner wants to speak to the authors!). Overall it doesn't seem to be as well-referenced as Fraser's work, but it can still be a good jumping off point.

[Rianne Heartfilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are so many pages and so many women that I want to remember and read about but I have to admit: I did not finish this, why not you would ask? BECAUSE IT WAS TOO MUCH.

I borrowed this book and it is great, I am jealous I don't have it myself but I did not want to keep it in my house for far too long (which I already felt like I am doing) but that doesn't mean this book is bad, it is just a lot to take in and more a book to have to stand on your shelf and when you want to read something small and short, you read the 4 pages of one of the great women. But not one after the other.

At days I took this book to work, I worked at a call centre and we had easy days in the summer, people were abroad, couldn't call us and when they did, they were mostly at the wrong department. Perfect and I could read a page, pick up a call, read another page and so on. That was nice, but it's not nice to really continue one after the other in my honest opinion. I would definitely try a few more when I am at the girl her place because let's be honest: I want to know.

[Melisende]

When I began reading this I had a de ja vu moment - Here in the first half of the book were a number of women I myself had featured on my website "Women of History" back in 1998 (which although no longer physically exists, is still archived on the internet).

Having said that, there is an impressive range of women featured - an entry level tome for those wishing to explore further themselves.

[Fadillah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great book. Every pages is filled with sketches, illustrations and facts of those brave women.

But

there's a lot of tales left untold. I thought this book would cover stories of strong women all over the world. Unfortunately, the answer is NO. Asian and Middle Eastern countries are left out (Of course, they will cover China , Japan and India but what about the rest of Asia?). To make it worse, even middle eastern tale is summarized to be "women fighters of the Arab world" in 2 pages. The rest of the countries are not worth looking.

I like this book but I'm utterly disappointed by the lack of inclusion and diversity in it.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how this book was to the point and didn't waste words. I am impressed with the author's ability in only using the most pertinent information -obviously you would have to. Otherwise the book would have been massive! It is definitely a good reference book and I have learned a lot.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but did question some of the entries as are an unapologetic Nazi supporter and Margaret Thatcher really women we should be looking up to? Yes, they broke through in a male-dominated industry but their actions caused countless suffering and their inclusion will be extremely triggering for people reading the book. I also felt the same for all the women included who were involved with the military. I understand women finally being recognised in the army is an achievement but they took up at least a 1/5 of the book and it did feel like a glorification of war and the army after a while. There are way more modern-day women who fought for peace or inclusion or their own passions, and I think they should've been included instead. It also bears mentioning, the majority of entries were white, straight, able-bodied women and it would've been nice to see more people from under-represented communities.

[Jai M {Cat Crazy Dragon } · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ADORE this book!
Educational entertainment! Nothing more, nothing less.
But it's not intending to be 😃

One woman, or group; two to four pages, one to two gorgeous reproductions of art (paintings, prints, sculpture, or photography (stills, film, documentary, historical).

It begins with the Amazons; prehistory to the early Christian era.
Finishes with US pilot Ladda 'Tammy' Duckworth; born 1968, lost both her legs 2004 while flying a helicopter in Iraq, is still a Major in the Illinois National Guard, and very politically active (I so got goosebumps 🙏✌️👏 )

You really need to see the photo of Margaret Thatcher, ridding top side of an army tank, holding the mounted machine gun, grinning her fool head off, awesome. 😂

[Harry Kloss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting thumbnail sketches of women who fought in or led battles or wars.

Some of these women's stories are fascinating. I knew of Matilda of Tuscany and her support of the Pope in his struggles with the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, but had never heard of Caterina Sforza who is most interesting. Some of these figures most definitely belong here, some I question if they really were warriors; this includes spies who apparently did not engage in combat but gathered information, dangerous yes but I'm not so sure that makes them warriors. In fact it is the stories of spies during WWII who actually fought that I found the most compelling, one of whom, if I am not mistaken inspired the Ken Follett novel Jackdaws.

I think some of the research is suspect. The authors tell the stories of Hippolyta and Penthesilea as though they are historical and not legendary. They also claim Joan of Arc was an excellent horsewoman; if she was a peasant how did she ever learn to ride. Another history I read recently stated she was such a poor rider that she rode to the rear of the army.

All in all an interesting read, but there is too little information about some of these historical figures which is a problem with books like this. It makes me want to do research on them.

[Fizzygoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the book, but there were some errors that made it a better reference list for further research rather than a good source of information. Such as, in the write up of Sammu-Ramat (circa 9th Century BC), it's written "Along the way she successfully repulsed attacks by the world's greatest military commander of the time, Alexander the Great." (pg 19). But Alexander lived 500 years after the life and times of Sammu-Ramat. After that I worried about all other historical statements. But still a great reference-list book.

[Manolo González · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is really disapointing, first of all, most of the woman described are queens, not woman at the front (as I would understand for "warrior"), Second, the stories of each woman are really brief, and finally, its incredible how famous warrior women like Roza Shanina, Milunka Savić, Nakano Takeko, etc... were utterly ignored. It's a book that I'd describe as "light reading" not a serious history book. Shame.

[Betty Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this though there were quite a few women in this book that I would not have defined as being warriors. A Chinese empress who had people murdered as merely one example.

[Mendy]

nice

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference for quick reviews on some of my heroines. A good reference book for all libraries.

[Bri Wedge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book. I learned about lots of new role models and it made me even prouder to be a woman. I can't wait to share this with my friends.

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is perhaps more a coffee table book than an academic one, but I loved it all the same.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK ALOT.