She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth (2010)

This was an enjoyable history - Ms. Castor just set forth the history as it was and made it easy to digest. Histories can sometimes be dry as dust, but her use of a prologue, i.e., the aftermath of the death of Edward VI, was great for putting the idea of a female monarch in context. We all know about Elizabeth I, her sister Mary, and Queen Jane of the 13 Days, but how many know about Matilda, also known as Maude, the woman who was Henry I's only legitimate heir after 1120, and her struggle with her cousin Stephen? The lives and careers of the celebrated Eleanor of Aquitaine and the much-maligned French queens, Isabella of France and Marguerite of Anjou, are fleshed out here, as well. I recommend this book for anyone wishing to have a primer on England's first female, and I think most fascinating, reigning monarchs. ( )

She-Wolves is a much more dynamic and pacey work on some of the strong-willed and powerful queens that ruled England, compared to Lisa Hilton's Queens Consort -- though that, covering the entire medieval period rather than selected queens, is more complete. Helen Castor's writing is better, though, and her selection of queens makes her work more interesting because they're the queens who wielded real power.

She discusses Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Acquitaine, Isabella of France, and Marguerite of Anjou, and the way their reigns over England (mostly as Queens Consort) shaped the situation which allowed Lady Jane Grey, Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I to rule. Her idea that those four queens were the instrumental ones seems sound to me, and she enquires into their lives with care, showing the queens' qualities that made them perfect for their roles (and the qualities which let them down).

The fact that history is driven, in that period, mostly by the male sex is unfortunate: though the book is intended to focus on the 'She-Wolves', inevitably they're seen in relation to their fathers, husbands and sons, and much of the action described involves the actions of men. Still, considering the period of history, Castor manages to shine a satisfying light on the actions of women as well. ( )

Very readable history. See my reviews http://www.dnsmedia.co.uk/reviews/view/1184 ( )

Troubled Royalty, the unbelievable stresses and strains of marriages made of political convenience, and the grisly punishments meted out to the virtuousness.
Inept male kings, religious politics with capital punishments meted out on either side for heresy, former old friends who were in power like Despenser led to be hung drawn castrated and beheaded, an unusual punishment for a Noble.
An eye opener because us women have to take control to make our men, countries families etc prosper. ( )

Where I got the book: my local library.

She-Wolves is an entertaining and clearly written account of English queens (well, mostly French really, but queens of England) who stood out from obscurity because they had to go the extra mile to cope with having their throne snatched out from under them (Matilda/Maud), being mom to an absentee king and his rotter brother (Eleanor), having a husband who ruled so badly that he ticked off just about every powerful aristocrat in the country (Isabella) or being wife to a low-watt bulb with a crown on his head (Marguerite d'Anjou). History, apparently, being written by men, did its best to bury these ladies but enough survives to make out a story of some pretty impressive women.

I'm not sure exactly why Castor wraps the whole account up inside the power struggle that took place to fill the royal vacancy left when Edward VI died, because she didn't, to my mind, do enough exploration of the fascinating reigns of Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I. Now I know those reigns HAVE been explored many times and perhaps that's reason enough not to cover them thoroughly, but I would have liked more, especially when it came to Elizabeth. The Bad Jane part of me keeps whispering that Castor put medieval history inside a Tudor wrapping because the Tudors are way more trendy and sexy (from a book-selling standpoint) than their lesser known forebears.

Be that as it may, I enjoyed the read. Castor has a nice, clear way of telling a story with just enough detail and never too much. Recommended. ( )