Queens

[Ayla]

i want to read about strong queens who we don't here to much about in Europe

[C.P.]

Well, there are lots of strong queens in Europe, too. But for outside Europe, here are some places to start.

Hatshepsut, only woman Pharaoh of Egypt
The Sekhmet Bed, book 1 of a trilogy, the second of which is The Crook and Flail
Mara, Daughter of the Nile
Pharaoh

Hoelun, mother of Genghis Khan
Amgalant One: The Old Ideal
See also Weatherford's Genghis Khan, below.

Khutulun (source of the opera Turandot)
Silk Road, although I have my doubts as to its authenticity
See also Weatherford's Secret History, below

Russian monarchs—
Catherine II
The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great

Elena Glinskaia—
The Golden Lynx (mine, and has legendary Turkic heroines as a bonus)

Empress Tsu Hsi (Cixi) of China
Empress Orchid, and the classic version
Imperial Woman

You might also look at Jack Weatherford's two nonfiction books:
The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire, and
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. Lots of memorable non-European female rulers there.

I saw one on medieval Iran, recently, but I have forgotten the title. These should get you going, though.

[Ayla]

I've read the book Pauline Gedge and Michelle Moran did on hatshepsut.....i meant more on the places you don't hear to much about like Ireland Ukraine etc i have the golden lynx on my to read shelf

[C.P.]

I don't think Ukraine had any great queens. It was not an independent country for most of its existence. Ireland may have some, but I wouldn't bet on it.

You may find something on Queen Margaret of Scotland. I can't recommend a specific title, though.

So you want lesser-known strong queens IN Europe? Other than Catherine II, I will have to think about that a bit. There are quite a few, but finding exact titles is more of a stretch.

[Ayla]

i will look up Margaret queen of scotts and yea lesser known

[C.P.]

The prior group reads by C.W. Gortner, on Isabella of Castile, and Sherry Jones (Four Sisters) may also fit your bill. You can find them by paging down on the group's home page.

[Ayla]

i read c.w. gortners Isabella of castile and loved it !!!

[Bryn]

C.P. wrote: "...I saw one on medieval Iran, recently, but I have forgotten the title..."

I know you'll let us know if you remember this one, C.P. There's more than one queen of medieval Iran I want fic on. Writers out there: Qutluq Terkan queen of Kirman (r. 1257-83) the most fantastic subject for a novel.

[Shomeret]

I haven't read this but Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Margaret of Scotlandby Susan Fraser King is about Queen Margaret.

I did read Susan Fraser King's novel Lady Macbethwho did become a Queen. I liked it very much.

What about Christina, Queen of Sweden? I know of a play and a movie about her, but not a novel.

[C.P.]

I will, if it resurfaces. Unfortunately, it's something that showed up on a Goodreads recommendation that I didn't add to my wish list. So it's probably a wash.

Still, while checking, I did find Great Maria, which also reminds me of the same author's The Belt of Gold, about the Empress Irene of Byzantium. Loved the second. Have not read the first, but I like most of this author's books.

[Gary]

Ayla wrote: "i want to read about strong queens who we don't here to much about in Europe"

There are some good books about Zenobia. You might want to look at Haley Elizabeth Garwood's Warrior Queens series.

[Robin]

Depends what you consider lesser known. Emma of Normandy has been a much overlooked queen in my opinion but she is starting to see some more attention so I don't know if she'd still be considered lesser known - there's two novels on her:



Æthelflæd was a daughter of Alfred the Great and ruled Mercia - most of the novels on her are self published or out of print but apparently some of the books in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon series strongly feature her:



Matilda of Flanders was William the Conqueror's wife:



SKP's new novel on Richard the Lionheart is told from the points of view of his sister and wife, both lesser known queens:



Or how about the Provence sisters:

[Jalilah]

Equal of the Sun: A Novel by Anita Amirrezvani is a novel based on the true story of a real life Persian princess who briefly rose to the position of ruler in 16th century Iran. I found it a real page turner.
Otherwise Forgotten Queens of Islam by Fatema Mernissi is a must read non-fiction book for anyone interested in Women rulers in the Islamic world.

[Ayla]

thank you robin, Gary & Jalilah :)

[C.P.]

Jalilah wrote: "Equal of the Sun: A Novel by Anita Amirrezvani is based on the true story of a real life Persian princess who briefly role to the position of ruler in 16th century Iran. I found it a real page tur..."

Yes, that was it! Thanks, Jalilah.

[Lisa]

I have always have had a thing for the warrior type queens or rulers

I see there are several books about Boudica, but I do not know if any of them are good.

I don't think this one is about a queen, but the main character is a good one.

[Leonide]

I've read a number of the books mentioned, from Boudica to Hatshepsut, others sound really interesting. But for something entirely new and unplumbed, how about fiction about the powerful Mayan women rulers? I'm currently writing the story of the four great "queens" of Palenque in the lineage of Janaab Pakal I. Nearly nothing has been written about the queens/rulers in the Americas, who shaped the destiny of the most advanced and sophisticated civilization in the world at that time. Stay tuned!

[~Brandy~]

Lisa wrote: "I have always have had a thing for the warrior type queens or rulers

I see there are several books about Boudica, but I do not know if any of them are good.

I ..."

I read this one last year and really enjoyed it. Auriane is a really strong character. I would definitely recommend this!