Tudor Feminists: Ten Renaissance Women Ahead of their Time

by Rebecca Wilson

The term ‘feminist’ would have been anachronistic in the Tudor period, but surely we would not hesitate to call the lady, who would be queen, Anne Boleyn, a feminist? All ten women, from Catherine Par to Margaret Beaufort, lived their lives in a way that challenged the patriarchal world they lived in. Each chapter is dedicated to one remarkable woman, ahead of her time. It explores her achievements and examines the impacts she had on a male-dominated world, while placing her in the context of her particular circumstance and background. These Renaissance women, from the high born to the merchant class, were rule breakers, they railed against the rigid social norms of their time and stand out vividly against a backdrop of domestic servitude.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Tudor Period

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 11, 2024

Reviews

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

DIDN'T REALLY FOLLOW THROUGH

Actual rating: 2.5 ⭐

👎 Lots of spelling,- grammatical,- and factual errors, it needed a lot more editing, just didn't feel finished
👎 A bit confusing, jumping in storylines at times and lots of name dumping with limited explanation or context
👎 Didn't really feel like a feminist exploration, it was a bit of a misnomer, especially the story of Margaret Pole was mishandled, as it was more about her male relatives than her...

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should know better than to try to read anything published by Pen and Sword - I am beginning to think it's a vanity press. Two mistakes in the first four pages turned me right off, the worst one being the confusing on page 32 of Margaret Beaufort (ostensible subject of the chapter) and Margaret Plantagenet daughter of George Duke of Clarence). Does anybody read these before publishing them?? I would be just watching for flaws from here on, which is a bad way to read a book. (The first mistake was "Joan" Swynford on page 28, it was Katherine.) Thanks to Net Galley for getting me a copy of this to read, sorry I can't say anything better about it.

[Seren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I thought this book was a nice, easy to read introduction to Tudor women. I think that for a lot of people who haven’t studied history, women are seen as a monolith consisting of mothers and housewives with little outside of that - this book shows definitely that this is not the case, that women played an important role in society and politics. It’s informative without being overwhelming, and covers the entire Tudor period rather than just the ‘popular’ parts.
Something I particularly enjoyed was how the author evaluated the reliability of sources and why we may not be able to trust what certain people say. The author doesn’t pretend to know exactly what happened, which I greatly appreciated.

One thing I think would greatly improve this book is the addition of some family trees - it can be hard to keep track of who is who, especially since almost everyone at the time had the same handful of names. I came to this book having previously studied Tudor history, and I think without this previous knowledge I might have got a little lost. I think having a visual to reference back to when reading would be very helpful.
My only other concern is the label of feminists. The definition of feminism is quite fluid over time and hard to pin down exactly, and certain parts of this book didn’t align with my understanding of feminism. I think the subtitle is a much more apt description, as I wanted more time devoted to what would qualify these women as feminists specifically. For example, in the chapter on Katherine of Aragon I would have appreciated a stronger focus on her regency and defeat of the Scottish invasion attempt and less on her fertility struggles. It almost felt like Katherine’s role as a mother was given more weight than her role as a leader. Perhaps a conclusion style chapter in the same vein as the introduction could help to reinforce the theme of feminism. The last few lines in particular I really liked, and it would be nice to have more of a reflection on the entire cast at the end to really seal the deal.

To conclude, a nice accessible book that highlights the forgotten aspects of history and a great introduction to critical thinking regarding the reliability of sources. With a few tweaks it could be hitting four or five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword History for the arc 🩷

[Helene Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - it was good to learn more about some of the people I knew less about like Arbella Stuart, Grainne O'Malley and Aemilia Lanier. I had only heard of Lanier in passing, knew she was a poet, and O'Malley I largely knew about through Greg Jenner's excellent episode on her on his 'You're Dead to Me' podcast. I have Sarah Gristwood's biography of Arbella Stuart to read so I may now be bumping that up my list!

There are a few errors throughout like referring to Henry Courtenay as 2nd Marquis of Devon when he was 2nd Earl of Devon and 1st Marquis of Exeter, or saying that Perkin Warbeck claimed to be Richard Duke of Gloucester when he actually claimed to be Richard Duke of York. There were also some aging errors like Edmund Tudor being aged 24 on 1 November 1455 but aged 26 on 1 November 1456, and that Margaret Beaufort and John de la Pole being aged 3 and 7 on their marriage, but they were only born a year apart. Little things like this kept distracting me from what I was reading.

I would say that we need to be careful applying the word 'feminist' to 16th century women as it is a modern concept, and these women were living in very different times. But I also think that this wasn't necessarily a feminist view which I liked, though it does mean the title is a little misleading. Just personally for me, I don't like to see a modern concept put on women living 500 years ago, others might, and that might just be a personal preference for me.

Overall, I think this was a good examination of these women, particularly the ones which are less well-known where there is less confirmed information about them. It was very accessible for those with less knowledge which is really important - I love anything which makes history more accessible to those who love to learn but wouldn't necessarily pick up a drier text. I know I struggle reading some of the drier academic texts sometimes myself, so this is a great introduction to prompt people to look further into the women discussed, and women's history more generally.

[Lucia]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

[Jodie Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 52 Week Reading Challenge: A buddy read (19)

*3.5

'Let them grumble; that is how it is going to be'

Overall, it was an enjoyable, accessible and informative read that covered the lives of some familiar historical characters such as Anne Boleyn as well as introducing some characters that are less known to me but equally as intriguing.

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

Rebecca Wilson's work recounts the life of ten women from the Tudor period, who led eventful lives and were, in many ways, ahead of their time.

The book was a good read overall, but I would mostly recommend it to readers who are not overly familiar with these historical figures. The chapters which cover some of Henry's wives, for example, were nothing new. I personally was more interested in some of the lesser known historical figures which she covers in the second part of the book, like Anne Askew, Bess of Hardwick, Grace (Gràinne) O'Malley and Aemilia Lanier.

This last was probably my favourite. I only vaguely knew about her because some historians think she was Shakespeare's "Dark Lady", but, like Wilson points out, it doesn't really matter if she was or not, because she was still a remarkable figure in herself. Lanier was the first Englishwoman to publish poetry under her own name, and her work Salve Deux Rex Judaeorum was incredibly modern and daring. It tells the story of Christ's crucifixion from the point of view of the women who watched from the crowd, making them the true main characters and relegating the men to mere side characters. Not only, she compares a wife and mother to a saint, because she puts her husband's and children's needs before her own, often to her detriment.

After the chapters about the lesser known women, I really liked the one about Margaret Beaufort. Even if I knew the most important facts about her life, I still learnt new things, like the fact that she, unlike most married women, was legally allowed to sign documents in her own name and own property independent of her husband, and that Lady Margaret Hall, the first women's college at Oxford, was named in her honour due to her rigorous support of education.

[Louise]

As someone with a keen interest in women throughout his history and the medieval - Tudor period, I didn't hesitate in downloading a copy of the ARC available on Netgalley... yet I feel like this book doesn't live up to it's full potential.


The women chosen to be the subject of this book certainly lived interesting lives and, when the author is in her flow, she tells an engaging story and makes me want to learn more than each mini biography given here...

Yet it seems that a fact checker and/or editor didn't give this work a once over as there are several typing errors and mistakes throughout each of the chapters. And one section seems to be lifted, word for word from wikipedia!

The author does have a nice style of writing but occasionally she confuses me by jumping around the women's timelines; which forces me to reread to understand what point I am up to in that Lady's life, as well as dumping too much detail regarding some of the women's male relations, which gets very confusing at times.
While I don't think the women's stories don't need to be validated by who their male relations maybe, I understand it's helpful to have context of where they fit into this world. (Perhaps a family tree at the begining of each chapter would be more helpful?)

This also has the adverse effect of reducing some of the women to a bit part in their own biography (Poor Margaret Pole's story seems to be about her dad, with a small section on her brother, followed by information about her husband then son before we finally hear about Margaret herself)


Another reason why it's possibly not living up to it's full potential is that the title doesn't feel right to me and perhaps Strong Tudor Women is a more accurate description for the subjects of this book. This could simply be because I associate the word "Feminists" with it's modern meaning; people standing up for the rights of women and/or for women to be treated equally as their male counterparts, whereas many of the women talked about here did what they did in order to survive the (ruled-by-men) world they lived in and not to intentionally better it for their fellow women.


Despite the negative points I've made above, I have to say that, overall, I did enjoy reading about the women selected for this title; especially the lesser talked about women such as Grainne O'Malley and Aemelia Lanier, and wouldn't mind a follow up on other strong-willed women on different periods of history.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about great women who held a strong place in their world. Though well written and meticulously researched, this book is aimed at readers who do not have deep knowledge about these famous historical women. It was still a pleasure to read.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about women who made a name for their self back when women were delegated to Bing property or if they were lucky spinsters. When I first started reading this book it was mostly about men’s views of women what they called women just everything we’ve already heard about how horrible men are and how these women became a part of our history despite their opinions I did appreciate the fact that the author said the women who work the hardest the mothers who set up by candlelight donning socks fixing clothes doing laundry ET see will never have the names in a book like this and she went on about these nameless women and I so totally appreciated that. In the book we hear about the mainstays when it comes to women who triumphed in a world full of men like Queen Elizabeth queen Mary Ann Boleyn ET see but you can tell this author did not copy and paste but did her own research because the narrative reads like a great story as opposed to Dusty academic text that is the litmus test for a good non-fiction book right? since it is so I will have to be honest and say this turned out to be a pretty good book whenever I’m aren’t something I didn’t already know I consider it worth reading in this book was so worth reading because even the things I did know were put in a more natural contacts and made it more palatable. If you’re a big fan of women’s history Or just history in general you definitely appreciate this book if not love it. I want to thank the author Pen and sword press history and Net Galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Despite the fact that, since Wilson is covering ten women's lives, there isn't time for a full biography on any of them, she still manages to give a detailed and deep description of each woman's life and how each of these amazing women of the Tudor era responded to her own specific circumstances and how each made an impact on the dynasty. From Margaret Beaufort single-handedly starting the Tudor dynasty to Grace O’Malley refusal to back down even to queens, and more, we get a fascinating look at women who made the era.

[Carol Standish-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read about strong women in the Tudor period of history. My main problem is the title. The majority of the subjects of the book had the advantage of position in society. Something that the ordinary women could only have dreamt of.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Wilson, Tudor Feminists 10 Renaissance Women Ahead of their Time, Pen & Sword, Pen & Sword History, January 2024.

Thank you NetGalley and Pen & Sword for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Rebecca Wilson’s Tudor Feminists 10 Renaissance Women Ahead of their Time does not display the lively writing which is one of the enduring features of Pen & Sword publications. However, this more densely written work certainly provides a fascinating read and is well worth Pen & Sword readers adapting to a different style. The description ‘feminist’ to introduce these ten women is something to think about. Were they feminist? Is feminism a broad or narrow term to be used in describing women and their behaviour? What behaviour is feminist? Could the period in which the women acted impact an understanding of whether that action was feminist or not?

All of these questions influenced my reading, making the book come alive as I read and pondered, not only the women’s behaviour and the period, but how I feel about what makes a woman’s behaviour feminist. Wilson’s reference to ‘Well behaved women seldom make history’ by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich provides a valuable clue to how to read the book as a tribute to feminism and feminist behaviour in the Renaissance period, so well-known through the Tudors. She also clarifies in the introduction suggesting that her description of the women in her book as feminist rests on their challenge to the patriarchal world in which they lived, surviving in that world while remaining out of step with it and, of course, their being remembered. The latter is essential to recognising that because we know something about them, they must have stood out over and above their being associated with the Tudors, however popular that period is as historical fare for fiction and non-fiction authors.

The women are from the upper echelons of Tudor society, most having some connection with the royal households or courts. They were advantaged by their wealth and connections, but as Wilson points out, their status was also a threat to patriarchy – not just in their own small domestic environment or community as would happen with a less elite woman behaving badly, but to the very structure of Tudor society. The women are: Margaret Beaufort; Margaret Pole; Anne Boleyn; Catherine Parr; Anne Askew; Bess of Hardwick; Grainne (Grace) O’Malley; Aemelia Lanier; and Arbella Stuart. Some of these names are extremely familiar, others are not.
Anne Askew, Grainne O’Malley and Aemilia Lanier are on the list of my less well-known women.
Anne Askew is referred to as Heretic and Poet; Grainne O’Malley as the Pirate Queen; and Aemelia Lanier as The Dark Lady. I recently found her amongst the little-known writers of the period, and this features in a wider exploration of her feminist approach to life in the Tudor period. Anne Askew, known for the torture she suffered because of her refusal to conform, was a well-educated woman whose knowledge and use of bible passages auger ill for her survival in a society where a particular group of powerful men were assumed the experts. Grainne O’Malley’s story relies on less reliable information, myth and legend mixed with sourced evidence. The discussion of this material is an interesting contribution to the way in which women’s history can be recorded, unrecorded, assessed and reassessed. Aemelia Lanier, poet and first to publish in her own name, is purported to be an inspiration for Shakespeare’s ‘Dark Lady’. The way in which her history is accumulated is also an interesting reflection on women’s fight to be heard and recognised: a major contribution to the understanding of feminist in this work.

The notes and index are an excellent source of further information, as are the illustrations at the end of the book. Rebecca Wilson has made a worthwhile and engaging contribution to the way in which feminist endeavour is understood as well as providing the stories of ten even more engaging women.

[Anne Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book: brief biographies of Tudor women who didn't fit our perceived mold of quiet, submissive historic women willing to blend into the background and be forgotten. While they certainly wouldn't have known the word 'feminists' and I don't think any of them would have considered themselves trailblazers or pioneers of any kind, the idea of reminding modern readers that there are always people who stand out as different is something worth reading about.

Did "Tudor Feminists" successfully do this? It was a pretty mixed bag for me. I have read biographies of most of the women in this book, or at least read about most of these women in other histories, so I've certainly read very good arguments for how Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Catherine Parr all used their positions and education to encourage education for others, even women of all classes, or how they tried to influence religion in society in different ways, or politics. I didn't feel like this book did an especially good job of talking about what they did or tried to do for others, how they really stood out among women at the time. The same with Bess of Hardwick. A strong and incredible woman in business and finance and especially in building! Much more so than the men in her family. But that force of nature personality doesn't come through as well in this book. I knew a little of Arbella Stuart through the biographies I've read of Bess of Hardwick, but I didn't get a sense of why this author felt Arbella was a "Tudor feminist". Because she might have had an eating disorder and that was how she took control of her life at the end? Actually, there were a few women I couldn't entirely figure out how the author thought were 'ahead of their time' significantly enough to make it into this book compared to other women of the time period.

Maybe some of it was that I didn't think this was a well-written book. It was repetitive and often seemed to wander from what her point should have been. I expected to read brief biographies of each of the ten women highlighted here, but I expected each section to focus mostly on the argument of why author Rebecca Wilson felt that woman was "ahead of her time". Lanier was the first published female poet? Ok, talk about what that means in the context- when were other women published, how difficult was it to get published, what was involved? Instead we read more about her using her sexuality to get ahead in the world and who she might have influenced (including Shakespeare), with lots of wondering about if she was the inspiration for the "Dark Lady" of his sonnets- before saying that it would be wrong to just focus on that.

Overall, not what I was hoping for. Repetitive, either not well written or not well edited, and overly simplistic. Maybe ok as an introduction to women you'd like to learn more about - in which case the bibliography is going to be your best reading.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Chelsea Littleton-Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Wilson's "Tudor Feminists" offers an enlightening and meticulously researched exploration of ten extraordinary women from the Tudor period who defied societal norms and challenged the male-dominated landscape of their time. While the term 'feminist' might be anachronistic for their era, Wilson compellingly argues for viewing these women through a feminist lens, particularly highlighting figures like Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr.

Each chapter of this book is a captivating journey into the life of a remarkable Tudor woman, ranging from high-born individuals to those from the merchant class. Wilson delves into their achievements, showcasing their defiance against patriarchal norms and their impactful contributions to a world that often constrained women to domestic roles.

Through vivid narratives, Wilson intricately weaves together the circumstances and backgrounds of these women, providing a contextual understanding of their lives. She skillfully examines their legacies, emphasizing how they challenged societal constraints, shattered expectations, and made significant strides in a time when women's agency was severely limited.

Wilson's meticulous attention to historical detail and her ability to paint a vivid picture of these trailblazing women make "Tudor Feminists" a compelling and illuminating read. By placing these Renaissance women in their historical context, the book not only celebrates their achievements but also underscores their enduring impact on challenging gender norms.

For history enthusiasts, feminists, and anyone intrigued by the lives of extraordinary women, "Tudor Feminists" serves as an engaging and insightful exploration, shedding light on the indomitable spirit of these remarkable individuals who stood against the constraints of their time. Rebecca Wilson's narrative is both informative and inspiring, providing a valuable addition to the understanding of women's roles and contributions in Tudor society.

[EmmsBookShelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tudor Feminists looks at the lives of ten different women from the general Tudor Period and examines their prolific lives and how they were able to cement their place in history whilst living in an incredibly patriarchal society.

I was incredibly happy to see that introduction examines that ‘feminist’ is an anarchistic label and that these women would never have labelled themselves or each other as such as the title of the book made me a little worried that there would be some rewriting of history and placing modern conceptions of feminism into these historical figures stories. Additionally, this was a great introduction to these women, some of whom I knew a lot about (Anne Boleyn is one of my favourite historical figures and I will never pass up an opportunity to read a history book that features her), and others whom I knew incredibly little about, and is a great gateway to further research and study. It was evidently well researched, with lengthy end notes and appropriate referencing to historical sources throughout the text.

Each chapter was a great length, providing an appropriate amount of detail without droning on and getting the audience ready for the next progression in history. I found it was written in an engaging manner, that wasn’t dry, but also didn’t patronise the audience and hold their hand throughout. While the images at the end were relevant and mostly glossy and bright, additional timelines and family trees to show the continuity of the time period and the way some of these women were interconnected would have been beneficial.

Tudor Feminists is perfect for anyone who enjoys the experiences of women in history or anyone looking for a more accurate and historical approach to many of the women who are the basis of characters in many period dramas. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Pen & Sword for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Sintros · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m an avid reader of anything Tudor and find the period in history to be fascinating. What one would think would be a boring or dry subject, turns out to be very interesting – full of intrigue, drama, and deceit.

This book is well written and researched. The author does a great job of detailing the lives of ten strong women ahead of their time. While I was familiar with a few of them such as Margaret Beaufort, Margaret Pole, and, of course, Anne Boleyn, I did not know about other lesser known women such as Anne Askew, Grainne (Grace) O’Malley, and Arbella Stuart. These women all went against the grain of society, fighting for their beliefs, which is never easy, let alone during this time period when something as small as a rumor started by an adversary can lead to someone being thrown in the Tower, subject to unspeakable punishments and forms of torture or drawn and quartered or even beheaded.

I found Tudor Feminists to be a fascinating read to be enjoyed by any Tudor enthusiast. One thing that I think would have been helpful would be to have some diagrams with family trees as it can get quite confusing with the number of names.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword history for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[B.S. Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the term feminism is fairly modern, there have been women existing for countless eras who have rebelled against patriarchy, dared to break from convention, had bigger dreams and desired — and whilst some of their actions may not be what we think of feminism today, these amazing women were yesteryears feminist icons.

This book takes a look at ten women from the Tudor period, when women were firmly held down by a sexism regime and shows us how each remarkable women decided to make a stand and shift the social current in their own way.

Each chapter focuses on one historical figure, from Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon to Gràinne O’Malley and Aemila Lanier - each one clearly well researched, full of context and laid out in an easily readable way in a chronological and informative style that was quite simple to follow and not too formal.

I also appreciate the authors acknowledgement that feminism wasn’t a choice for many women due to their positions, and most poor women went largely undocumented and unremembered. Due to this, it is largely the royal and rich women who had even a chance to take a stand, like the ones we see here.

[MsV · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tudor Feminists: 10 Renaissance Women Ahead of Their Time" by Rebecca Wilson is a compelling and enlightening exploration of the lives and legacies of ten remarkable women who defied societal norms and paved the way for gender equality during the Tudor era. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Wilson brings to life the stories of these often-overlooked trailblazers, shedding light on their contributions to politics, literature, education, and activism. From the formidable Queen Elizabeth I to the radical thinker Mary Wollstonecraft, each chapter offers a nuanced portrait of a woman who dared to challenge the status quo and advocate for women's rights in a patriarchal society. Wilson's writing is engaging and accessible, making the book both informative and inspiring for readers of all backgrounds. "Tudor Feminists" is a timely reminder of the resilience and courage of women throughout history and a testament to the enduring legacy of feminist activism. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in women's history and the ongoing struggle for gender equality.

[Melanie (Fenrys's Version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬

⟡

This was an interesting, easy introduction to women in the Tudor period. It touched on the more popular/well known stories and some lesser known stories too, as an Irish woman I loved the inclusion of Grace O' Malley! I don't know much about the Tudor period and I found this was very digestible and a good gateway.

I found there was some unnecessary info dumping, especially names and backgrounds and I think family trees would have been hugely beneficial.

I really liked that the author sourced their information but also acknowledged that we can't know exactly what happened. Nothing felt preachy it was very authentic.

I've seen some people questioning the feminism of this book, and unfortunately some showing a deep misunderstanding of feminism itself, but I think these stories show us that feminism is not one size fits all. Sometimes it might mean you're not the most powerful but you use what's available to you to rise up and I think these women show that

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to get access to this via Netgalley, and with an interest in history and a knowledge of women who really did have brains in this period I was intrigued by the premise.

Of course feminism back then wasn't exactly a thing quite yet, however the author really does highlight how these women were a small foundation stone in the steps towards women being considered of equal value, highlighting women from the period who really made clear they weren't just wives or daughters to powerful men.

An interesting perspective which is often dominated by a king that had six wives and really that seems to be all that we know sometimes, names in a rhyme, this book has great depth and brilliant research and I'd be intrigued to read more, especially in a more broad sense about women in the period.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC!

[Ishieta Chopra · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a woman I am always interested to learn about how women from other parts of the world, from other times of history LIVED. This book takes a look at the Tudor women and delves into their challenges which are not apparent if you just read a history book. Having said that, you will need to be familiar with the history of the times to relate to all the events, dates and names that are referenced in the telling of their stories. Women have always been resourceful and despite the odds have made a difference - This book captures their stories.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to stay engaged unfortunately and often found my mind wandering. The word ‘perhaps’ came up many times which made me feel the author was speculating rather than providing facts. I was looking forward to learning more about Margaret Pole but was disappointed to find much focus on her male relatives. As others have said, family trees would have also helped. On a plus note, my favourite chapter was Grace O’Malley’s whom I knew little about and would now like to know more.

Thank you Netgalley and Pen & Sword for this ARC.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

These women can't really be called 'feminists' in today's sense of the word, but Rebecca Wilson explains this at the beginning of her book. Three of the women are actually wives of Henry VIII - Catherine of Aragon, Anne boleyn and Katherine Parr. They are my favourites. Others include Margaret Beaufort, who fought for her son Henry VII like a lioness, and Margaret Pole. They are all wonderfully interesting, although I am not sure that Wilson says anything new about them. It's a great read, though.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book profiles Tudor women who defied patriarchal expectations and challenged rigid gender norms. From queens to commoners, it delves into the accomplishments of remarkable Renaissance women across all levels of society.

I enjoyed reading these biographies. The women were familiar to me, but in many cases I only knew parts of their stories. This book was a compassionate, informative, and enjoyable read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! These were fascinating women forging forward in a time where they had little power to shape their own lives. I appreciated the authors writing style. It made these women come to life. I only wish it had lasted longer! I've read a fair amount of books about some of these women but there were a few whos background was new to me and I was able to pick up a few unknown tidbits. A very fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for providing me with an ARC of this book to enjoy.

[Carol-Ann Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some inaccuracies, but it does act as a good introduction to some interesting Tudor women, perfect for those just getting into Tudor history. There are some time jumps in each chapter that may be tricky to follow if you are just beginning to learn about the Tudors but all in all it's well worth a read.

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great research done here by Wilson. Meticulous and thorough but conveyed in a way where the reader becomes instantly intrigued and completely enlightened afterwards. If you're a fan of women's history - take notes with this one!

Thank you Netgalley and Pen & Sword for the ARC!

[LOIS · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at how women asserted themselves in a Tudor world.
.The lives of protestants, princesses, a poet and a pirate, show how remarkable these women were, despite being hampered by men's laws. . A well researched book full of detail dnd excellent
references. An engrossing read.

[Louise Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

The editors and publishers need to get a new day job- the amount of grammatical errors apparent was ridiculous.
The content however was ok. Engaging enough and interesting. More suited for those just getting into reading or history.