Boadicea's Chariot: The Warrior Queens (Hardcover)

by Antonia Fraser (Author)
Key Phrases: Queen Elizabeth, Queen Jinga, Queen Victoria (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In a series of cleverly linked biographies, Fraser here tells the stories of a long line of history's "warrior queens," at the same time exploring and illuminating the myths, paradoxes and ambiguities that attend their status as aggressive female leaders, and the "mingled awe, horror, and ecstasy" that they inspire. She begins with the British queen Boadicea, who in A.D. 60 led a massive but doomed rebellion against the Roman occupation (and whose spirit haunts the entire book), and ends with the modern trio: Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher. In between come the likes of Isabella of Spain, Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great and the beautiful Rani of Jhansi, who, wronged by the British, earned herself a permanent place in Indian legend by the heroic role she played against them in the so-called Mutiny of 1857. Fraser ( Mary Queen of Scots ; Cromwell ) buttresses her book with sound scholarship, while her insights and enthusiasm make it beguiling. Illustrated. 60,000 first printing; BOMC and QPBC alternates.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
YA-- Using Britain's Queen Boadicea as a focus, Fraser presents a provocative study of exceptional women leaders whose patriotic and military actions are resounding proof that women have made their mark many times over in fields usually dominated by men. Leadership roles of Warrior Queens Boadicea, Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great, Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, and Margaret Thatcher--and many others--are examined in the context of the paradoxes and politics of their times. This book brings to life historical fact from a feminist viewpoint. A worthwhile addition to the history shelves.
- Jenni Elliott, Episcopal High School, Bellaire, TX
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson (October 13, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0297794868
• ISBN-13: 978-0297794868
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,321,929 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scary Boss Women, December 19, 2001

By	Matherson (New York) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Warrior Queens: The Legends and the Lives of the Women Who Have Led Their Nations in War (Paperback)

This is a series of essays on female leadership, and mens' reaction to it, by the renowned author Lady Antonia Fraser. Though it purports to center about the legendary Briton queen Boadicea, the "elephant sitting in the corner" throughout the whole account is the former PM Margaret Thatcher. The Iron Lady makes an overt appearance in the final chapter but her specter looms in the earlier chapters about such rulers as Zenobia, the Palmryan Queen who fought Aurelian, or Elizabeth I, the red-headed Virgin Queen. Fraser is very clever at identifying some of the vices and syndromes, many of them contradictory, that have clustered around female rulers, including the "Voracity Syndrome" - the theory that women in power are sex-crazy. Only Tsarina Catherine II (the "Great") truly matches that description; most, such as Cleopatra, were one-man women, despite their detractors' rhetoric. A fine work of history made especially enjoyable by its breadth and wit.

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Boadicea's Chariot, December 10, 1999

By	Amanda J Greenberger (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Warrior Queens: The Legends and the Lives of the Women Who Have Led Their Nations in War (Paperback)

Lady Fraser's book is an excellent treatment of her topic. I was concerned that it might be too politically correct, but in fact she has examined the ways in which women have accepted and cemented positions of power. Her analysis treats on a wide historical range and does not limit itself to the familiar figures: Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, etc. Her style is informative but not difficult and pleasant without being overly colloquial. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in how women present themselves in order to attain and hold power and to people interested in learning more about some histories they would probably not otherwise come across.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Boadicea to Margaret Thatcher, August 11, 2000

By	Ricky Hunter (New York City, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Warrior Queens: The Legends and the Lives of the Women Who Have Led Their Nations in War (Paperback)

This book, like many by Antonia Fraser, was very entertaining and quite thrilling. There was a British bias but it helped to frame the book and there were many side journeys to other nations to keep this journey fascinating.

What was most interesting was how the various women used being women to their advantage as well as how their enemies also used their femaleness against them. Antonia Fraser weaves all these women together but clearly presents their differences. They are all linked by being women but it is shown how that very similarity can be so differently used and percieved by all these various warriors. The inidivduals that come out of this story are unique and interesting. It is these vivid brief portraits that carry this book along. Well done.