Ten Queens: Portraits of Women of Power [Hardcover]

Milton Meltzer (Author), Bethanne Andersen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1998

From the courage and beauty of Esther to the reforming spirit of Catherine the Great, here are essays about ten queens by an author who has been called arguably the best writer of social history for children and adolescents ever. Meltzer, by his own description, is accustomed to presenting history from the bottom up, but he takes a top down approach for these monarchs, revealing the personal and political natures of women who commanded power not because they happened to marry a king but because they ruled in their own right, by themselves. Or if they sat on thrones beside kings, they had as much or more to say about governing than their husbands. Most were, by today's standards, astonishingly young. Many were physically powerful, accomplished women. Some were schooled to rule, others not. But all were ambitious, passionate, and determined to hold power. All were subject to suspicion and envy. And all, in their successes and failures, ideals and compromises, assumptions and privileges, present interesting contrasts with the lives of women today.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In an enticing mix of history and biography, Meltzer (American Revolutionaries) reveals many events and personal characteristics that contributed to 10 women rulers' rise to power. Covering a 2000-year time span, the book's subjects unfold chronologically and include well-known queens such as Cleopatra and Elizabeth I, as well as the lesser-known Boudicca (who led a revolt against the Romans circa A.D. 60) and Zenobia (who sought to establish her own united kingdom of the East in A.D. 269). Deftly placing each queen in historical context, Meltzer conveys the complexity of power and those who seek it. And, while maintaining a brisk pace, the text nevertheless raises political and ethical questions. Andersen's (Seven Brave Women) painterly scenes of the Tower of London, Notre Dame and Russia's Hermitage Palace, among others, will delight art-loving adults, but her portraiture is the real standout. From Boudicca's fiery hair to Eleanor of Aquitane's self-possession, from Christina of Sweden's hauty profile to Maria Theresa's gentle visage, these sensitively drawn portraits indicate both the humanity of these women and their extraordinary determination. Andersen's dramatic pictures, interspersed with maps and supplemental material set off in tinted boxes, highlight the risks these women faced to solidify their power and defeat their enemies. A preface, source notes, bibliograpy and index make the volume a natural?and enjoyable?classroom component. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10AQueens, when they are ruling monarchs, are second choices. They come to power because of the death or absence of kings, and must prove themselves capable of political leadership. A few of the 10 chosen by Meltzer ruled with independence and skill, notably Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, and Catherine the Great. Boudicca of Britain and Zenobia of Palmyra were warrior queens. Others, like the biblical Esther, lived in times of crisis and made choices that changed history. Eleanor of Aquitaine was a matriarch as well as a monarch, and Christina of Sweden was neither, refusing to marry and abdicating power to live grandly. Of necessity, much of the description deals with men, the kings who came before and after, the advisers, the generals, the plotters, and supporters who peopled their realms. While occasional comments suggest the conflicts that these women must have faced because of their sex, Meltzer writes traditional political history. He has a storyteller's flair and an eye for the small details and anecdotes that bring these queens to life. An added note explains the difficulties researchers face in sifting legend from fact and in weighing historical evidence. Colorful expressionistic paintings, boldly stroked onto unframed panels, enrich the pages. Decorative touches of flowers and jewels on the vibrant portraits celebrate the women's wealth and femininity. While the sources of the quotations that are woven into the accounts are not identified, there is a bibliography of standard histories consulted. Maps and an index add to the usefulness of the book for reports, and the well-spaced lines of text make the pages inviting to read. This book will grace the history shelves and provide pleasure to its readers.AShirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525456430
• ISBN-13: 978-0525456438
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #499,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Teens > Biographies

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Broad based overview of Queens makes excellent reading., October 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Ten Queens: Portraits of Women of Power (Hardcover)

My nine year old daughter thoroughly enjoyed this overview of famous women rulers from ancient times to the 18th century.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very, Very Good!!!, December 12, 2001

By 

JK (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ten Queens: Portraits of Women of Power (Hardcover)

I checked "Ten Queens" out from my local library to brush up on my reading of some of my favorite historical figures of all time- Cleopatra VII and Eleanor of Acquitaine.
While the book shed great light on two of the most famous women in all of ancient/medieval history, the author also brought to light lesser known queens. All of a sudden, I have a great respect for the fearless Zenobia, the corageous Boudicca, and, of course, the Biblical Esther. He has done an oustanding job of researching all of the queens and presenting them all in a favorable light (though let's not forget Christina's hypocritical ways, Cleopatra's love affairs, and Catherine the Great's promiscuity- for history's sake).
All in all, a great book worth the money.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Worthwhile, with a small caveat, October 4, 2011

By 

LME "The Discerning Viewer" (Central CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ten Queens: Portraits of Women of Power (Paperback)

I found Ten Queens to be a valuable read. The inclusion of background information, placing each Queen in her historical context, is a definite plus. Too often biographers neglect to create a broader historical backdrop for their subject. The text is engaging and flows well, particularly after the first two entries. I found the text is neither too dry nor too scholarly, although at times a touch too informal. Yes, even a too casual tone can mar an otherwise good book.

The illustrations are beautifully done, unique and effective, and maps are occasionally included. In addition there are found pertinent insertions of original quotes and verse. For the most part I found I agreed with the recommended reading ages of grades 6-10. I might make it grades 7-12. Actually it makes an excellent read for any adult who enjoys history.

Overall this book is extremely good and may deserve a 4.5 star rating. The difficult issues, such as the Crusades and the Inquisition are handled very well. Each fascinating Queen's life is portrayed rather even-handedly. The Queens are neither exalted as heroines nor condemned for their humanity. Each of these women were placed in extraordinary situations and possessed unusual skills with which to manage those situations. Truth is stranger than fiction, again !

Caveat: There are a few disturbing choices of words, given the intended audience. For instance, on page 11 Cleopatra is termed a possible "sexual glutton". In my opinion something on the order of using her feminine wiles for pleasure and/or in order to manipulate men would be more appropriate. In fact the whole paragraph has a more casual tone and sounds trite in comparison to the bulk of the fine writing in this book. On page 16, "By the time he departed (Caesar), Cleopatra was pregnant." I know this is more nitpicky but I certainly think that "Cleopatra was expecting his child" would be more appropriate. In contrast, on page 20, "Antony...was often the victim of his appetites for love and luxury." In the preceding sentence Antony's behavior is treated less bluntly, and far more tastefully, than the descriptions of Cleopatra. It is the inconsistency of the writer's approach that bothered me. I found it distracting and detracting from the main effort of the book, which appeared to be to offer engaging and rather thorough overviews of the "Ten Queens".

Moving on to page 28, "And then, in a savage climax, they flogged Queen Boudicca and raped her two daughters." I found the statement to be more sensationalistic and attention grabbing than desirable to move the history forward. Why not state that "they...violated her two daughters or used them to satisfy men's lusts." ? There are also some less than optimally worded passages in the last bio., that of Catherine the Great of Russia.

---As the mother of a 13 year old girl/young woman, I only wish to bring the above caveat to the attention of those who may be in a similar parenting situation or are considering gifting this book without reading it first. I do not consider my daughter to be "sheltered" but I do wish to avoid assaulting her sensitivities before she is more firmly established in the pre-adult world and ready to more fully embrace it. It is not that I will withhold this book from her but I will be equipped to comment on its content. I thought there may be many parents who would prefer to at least be aware of the above note before making the decision to have their child read the book. I do not recommend the book for 5th-6th grade and younger and likely not for more sensitive children of the 7th-8th grades. Also I think it is best to wait to confront complex issues such as the Inquisition.