“Helen Castor has an exhilarating narrative gift. . . . Readers will love this book, finding it wholly absorbing and rewarding.” —Hilary Mantel, Booker Prize-winning author of Wolf Hall In the tradition of Antonia Fraser, David Starkey, and Alison Weir, prize-winning historian Helen Castor delivers a compelling, eye-opening examination of women and power in England, witnessed through the lives of six women who exercised power against all odds—and one who never got the chance. With the death of Edward VI in 1553, England, for the first time, would have a reigning queen. The question was: Who? Four women stood upon the crest of history: Katherine of Aragon’s daughter, Mary; Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Elizabeth; Mary, Queen of Scots; and Lady Jane Grey. But over the centuries, other exceptional women had struggled to push the boundaries of their authority and influence—and been vilified as “she-wolves” for their ambitions. Revealed in vivid detail, the stories of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, Margaret of Anjou, and the Empress Matilda expose the paradox that England’s next female leaders would confront as the Tudor throne lay before them—man ruled woman, but these women sought to rule a nation.

A rich and fresh survey of women's lives between George III and the First World War Using diaries, letters, memoirs as well as social and statistical research, this book looks at life-expectancy, sex, marriage and childbirth, and work inside and outside the home, for all classes of women. It charts the poverty and struggles of the working class as well as the leadership roles of middle-class and elite women. It considers the influence of religion, education, and politics, especially the advent of organised feminism and the suffragette movement. It looks, too, at the huge role played by women in the British Empire: how imperialism shaped English women's lives and how women also moulded the Empire.

This is an original, accessible, and comprehensive survey of life as it was experienced by most Englishwomen during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The authors examine virtually all aspects of women's lives: female life-stages from birth to death; the separate culture of women, including female friendship and feminist consciousness; the diverse roles of women in the religious and political movements of the day; and the effect of prevailing perceptions of gender differences. Comparisons are made between the makeshift economy of poor women and the occupational identities, and preoccupations, of the middling and elite classes. This fascinating and well-illustrated book reconstructs the mental and material world of Tudor and Stuart women. It will become the standard text on the subject.

The Women of England, Their Social Duties, and Domestic Habits by Mrs. Ellis: First published in 1839, this classic guide to women's social roles and domestic responsibilities offers a fascinating glimpse into the gender norms and expectations of Victorian England. From housekeeping to charity work to motherhood, Mrs. Ellis provides practical advice for women seeking to fulfill their societal obligations. Key Aspects of the Book "The Women of England, Their Social Duties, and Domestic Habits": Historical Insight: The book provides a valuable primary source for understanding women's lives in Victorian England. Glimpse into Society: Through Mrs. Ellis's writing, readers can see the societal norms and expectations that shaped women's lives and attitudes. Practical Advice: Whether discussing child-rearing, etiquette, or charity work, the author's advice offers a unique perspective on domestic life in the 19th century. Mrs. Ellis was the pseudonym of Sarah Stickney Ellis, a British author and philanthropist born in 1799. Her works on social etiquette and domestic life were widely read and respected in her time, and The Women of England remains a fascinating glimpse into the attitudes and values of the era.