A fantastic book on powerful women who made a significant impact on their society. Despite its excellent writing and thorough research, this book is meant for those who are not very familiar with these well-known historical women. Reading it was nevertheless enjoyable. This book tells the story of women who rose to prominence during the time when women were assigned to Bing property or, if they were lucky, spinsters. I really enjoyed the author's statement that the women who work the hardest—the mothers who set up by candlelight, put on socks, fix clothes, do laundry, and so on—will never have names in a book like this. When I first started reading this book, it was mostly about men's opinions of women and what they called women—basically everything we've already heard about how horrible men are and how these women became part of our history despite their opinions. The book discusses the mainstays of women who succeeded in a world dominated by men, such as Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary Ann Boleyn ET see, but it is evident that the author conducted her own research because the narrative reads more like a captivating story than a dry academic text—which is the mark of a good non-fiction book. Since it is, I will have to be honest and say that this ended up being a pretty good book. Even the things I already knew were presented in a more palatable way, so even though it wasn't something I didn't know, I still think it was worth reading. If you have a strong interest in women's history or history in general, you will enjoy this book a great deal.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley

Tudor Feminists by Rebecca Wilson examines some of the more famous and lesser known women during the Tudor dynasty, drawing connections between them and detailing their lives and how they became significant to the era. It examines Margaret Beaufrot, Margaret Pole, Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Catherine Parr, Anne Askew, Bess of Hardwick, Grainne O’Malley, Aemilia Lanier, and Arbella Stuart.

This was the first time I had heard of Arbella Stuart, the almost queen after Elizabeth I’s death and the first time I saw the Dark Lady of Shakespeare’s sonnets (Aemilia Lanier) named. Many of these women are connected in several ways to Elizabeth I, whether it be family ties or political ones, stitching the featured women firmly together to the beginning and the end of the Tudor line.

Aemilia’s section was my personal favorite because I’m a long-time fan of Shakespeare and her own accomplishments as the first woman poet published under her own name in English. Anne Askew was a close second for her devotion to faith and her strong will.

I would recommend this to fans of women’s or Tudor era history. I would not recommend this to readers looking for a focus on male stories of the time period.

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 water think the author Pen sword press history and Net Galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

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.

It was great to learn more information about the women of the Tudor period, very informative overall.