A review by happilyruined
Doomed Queens by Kris Waldherr
3.0
We all know that when it comes to books that bring a bunch of interesting historical figures together in short, concise essays--there's not much deviation. You get a few interesting stories out of them and hopefully a little bit of accuracy. I can't say that Doomed Queens brings any new ground to the "genre". The familiar women like Marie Antoinette and Anne Boleyn get the same old treatment as the always do. Waldherr does bring a few lesser-known ladies--Thessalonike among them--to the forefront, and that's a pleasant surprise.
The only thing I would critique is that every now and then Waldherr gets a little too judgmental when faced with certain women. She dismisses Cleopatra's relationship with Mark Antony as a seduction in which he was an alcoholic victim and Cleopatra a distant manipulator with no real feelings for the fathers of her children. Her favorites, on the other hand--like Anne Boleyn--get free passes. Anne was certainly innocent and more good than she was bad; but her feelings for Henry VIII could be questioned as much if not moreso than Cleopatra's for Antony.
Overall: fun, introduces you to new ladies, good way to pass the time.
The only thing I would critique is that every now and then Waldherr gets a little too judgmental when faced with certain women. She dismisses Cleopatra's relationship with Mark Antony as a seduction in which he was an alcoholic victim and Cleopatra a distant manipulator with no real feelings for the fathers of her children. Her favorites, on the other hand--like Anne Boleyn--get free passes. Anne was certainly innocent and more good than she was bad; but her feelings for Henry VIII could be questioned as much if not moreso than Cleopatra's for Antony.
Overall: fun, introduces you to new ladies, good way to pass the time.