beckykirk's review against another edition
3.0
A little too much snipping for my taste. Just because it's a feminist reinterpretation doesn't mean men suck balls. I did like the view of Anne B as harassed, I'd never thought about it that way before. But as a scholarly work it didn't live up to expectations.
helenephoebe's review against another edition
2.0
ISBN? - 9780201408232
General Subject/s? - History / Tudors / Women / Politics
Title? - Not really a feminist interpretation, more just a focus on the women rather than the men around them.
General Analysis? - Although the idea of a feminist history of the wives of Henry VIII was a good idea, I don't think Karen Lindsay executed it very well. Most of the book was vague, particularly for the wives where there is the most information available (Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn), and I felt that she didn't really know what she was talking about in parts. She didn't look at a very wide variety of primary sources, and tried to warp the source material to her own ends, looking for a feminist-positive conclusion. However, her writing was engaging and she did make some valid points about the evidence and the views of other historians.
Recommend? – Not the best history, with some obvious mistakes in places, but useful for an overview.
General Subject/s? - History / Tudors / Women / Politics
Title? - Not really a feminist interpretation, more just a focus on the women rather than the men around them.
General Analysis? - Although the idea of a feminist history of the wives of Henry VIII was a good idea, I don't think Karen Lindsay executed it very well. Most of the book was vague, particularly for the wives where there is the most information available (Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn), and I felt that she didn't really know what she was talking about in parts. She didn't look at a very wide variety of primary sources, and tried to warp the source material to her own ends, looking for a feminist-positive conclusion. However, her writing was engaging and she did make some valid points about the evidence and the views of other historians.
Recommend? – Not the best history, with some obvious mistakes in places, but useful for an overview.
yourfavavery's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Yet another book about Tudor ladies. I really liked this one!
First, the history seems to check out without being overly biased. Lindsey mostly interprets history in believable ways (Anne of Cleves was likely happy to divorce the King, Kathryn Howard was just a vivacious woman trying to stay sane while married to an old man, etc.). She also talks about the women around the Queens like Anne Askew and Catherine Willoughby, which is a nice touch. Her insights do draw feminist conclusions, like the sexual harassment and coercion of Anne Boleyn, but doesn't twist history to fit our modern feminist sensibilities. She meets the morals of the Tudor period where they are, which I appreciate.
First, the history seems to check out without being overly biased. Lindsey mostly interprets history in believable ways (Anne of Cleves was likely happy to divorce the King, Kathryn Howard was just a vivacious woman trying to stay sane while married to an old man, etc.). She also talks about the women around the Queens like Anne Askew and Catherine Willoughby, which is a nice touch. Her insights do draw feminist conclusions, like the sexual harassment and coercion of Anne Boleyn, but doesn't twist history to fit our modern feminist sensibilities. She meets the morals of the Tudor period where they are, which I appreciate.
hmiceli's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up at the thrift store a couple weeks ago - I have a passing interest in Henry's wives (and a current love of the SIX soundtrack) so I thought I'd grab it and learn a bit more about these women. It was a wonderfully easy non-fiction book to read - the author deliberately did not use footnotes and it read very much like a story. Perhaps I'm not as up on my feminist literature as I should be, but the feminist lens was there but not the highlight. There was also a lot of names of people to keep track of (she had a list at the beginning and I don't really fault her - that was the way of it) so it slowed me down a bit, but it was an enjoyable, fairly easy read.
kingaphrodite's review against another edition
I read this book for AP Euro History. We had to pick one of the options and I chose this one.
I was very interested in the claim of it being a 'feminist' reinterpretation. Truthfully, I went into the book not believing this claim. Nevertheless, Henry VIII is known for having many wives and I had always been interested in the story.
Truthfully, it was an interesting read. Lindsey managed to keep me engaged and it almost seemed like a story of a spoiled king who courted different, yet strong, women. Her 'feminist' interpretation claim also was made to a certain degree. Once, I started to look for it, it was clearly evident.
The only difficult thing is the similarity in names that Lindsey writes. Although she changes the spellings of the queens, there were different Marys and Catherines that it takes awhile to figure out which one. An epithet would have been useful. For me, a student with little knowledge of European families, it would have been useful to have an expansive family tree. The 'Who's Who' can only contain so much.
Overall though, a good story and if it wasn't for my refusal to rate books forced upon me, it would be a 4 out of 5.
I was very interested in the claim of it being a 'feminist' reinterpretation. Truthfully, I went into the book not believing this claim. Nevertheless, Henry VIII is known for having many wives and I had always been interested in the story.
Truthfully, it was an interesting read. Lindsey managed to keep me engaged and it almost seemed like a story of a spoiled king who courted different, yet strong, women. Her 'feminist' interpretation claim also was made to a certain degree. Once, I started to look for it, it was clearly evident.
The only difficult thing is the similarity in names that Lindsey writes. Although she changes the spellings of the queens, there were different Marys and Catherines that it takes awhile to figure out which one. An epithet would have been useful. For me, a student with little knowledge of European families, it would have been useful to have an expansive family tree. The 'Who's Who' can only contain so much.
Overall though, a good story and if it wasn't for my refusal to rate books forced upon me, it would be a 4 out of 5.
bethzovko47's review against another edition
4.0
If it deals with British history, I, like Ron Burgundy, will read absolutely anything that's put in front of me, so I know my shit when it comes to the Tudors. I picked this one up because it offered a new take on the traditional narrative on the six ladies unlucky enough to be Henry's bride.
Normally, I steer clear of modernist takes, especially feminist re-workings, as these often attribute modern attitudes and social norms on historic people and societies. That said, Lindsey's book had some interesting insights into the minds and motives of Henry and his queens.
For instance, Lindsey takes the story of Henry meeting his 'Flanders Mare' and turns it around: maybe Anne was the one disgusted with her intended and Henry (on the winning side of history) was retaliating. Interesting...
Even though several of Lindsey's claims are just that--claims--her ideas are food for thought. No one, even the traditionalists, knows positively what went on behind court eyes and behind closed doors, so it's fun to consider a new set of motivations for these now silent figures.
Normally, I steer clear of modernist takes, especially feminist re-workings, as these often attribute modern attitudes and social norms on historic people and societies. That said, Lindsey's book had some interesting insights into the minds and motives of Henry and his queens.
For instance, Lindsey takes the story of Henry meeting his 'Flanders Mare' and turns it around: maybe Anne was the one disgusted with her intended and Henry (on the winning side of history) was retaliating. Interesting...
Even though several of Lindsey's claims are just that--claims--her ideas are food for thought. No one, even the traditionalists, knows positively what went on behind court eyes and behind closed doors, so it's fun to consider a new set of motivations for these now silent figures.