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Game of Queens: The Women Who Made Sixteenth-Century Europe
Sixteenth-century Europe saw an explosion of female rule. From Isabella of Castile, and her granddaughter Mary Tudor, to Catherine de Medici, Anne Boleyn, and Elizabeth Tudor, these women wielded enormous power over their territories, shaping the course of European history for over a century. Across boundaries and generations, these royal women were mothers and daughters, mentors and protégées, allies and enemies. For the first time, Europe saw a sisterhood of queens who would not be equaled until modern times. A fascinating group biography and a thrilling political epic, Game of Queens explores the lives of some of the most beloved (and reviled) queens in history.
351 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2016
348 people are currently reading
9372 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Gristwood
26 books372 followersSarah Gristwood attended Oxford and then worked as a journalist specializing in the arts and women's issues. She has contributed to The Times, Guardian, Independent, and Evening Standard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
February 6, 2017
4.5 stars
Interesting look at the role of women in the 15th and 16th centuries, showing that they were far more influential than might at first appear. Sarah Gristwood covers a lot of royal women of Europe and gives detailed accounts of that influence. I was given a small introduction to many of the women I knew of in that era but had not known much about them - I am now eager to learn more about most of them! I held back one half of a star - this was because, especially in the section detailing Anne Boleyn in Europe, I was annoyed by overmuch speculation - 'she might have seen this, she may have thought....' etc. I never like that.
Interesting look at the role of women in the 15th and 16th centuries, showing that they were far more influential than might at first appear. Sarah Gristwood covers a lot of royal women of Europe and gives detailed accounts of that influence. I was given a small introduction to many of the women I knew of in that era but had not known much about them - I am now eager to learn more about most of them! I held back one half of a star - this was because, especially in the section detailing Anne Boleyn in Europe, I was annoyed by overmuch speculation - 'she might have seen this, she may have thought....' etc. I never like that.
April 30, 2022
The sixteenth century witnessed a proliferation of royal women of power. from Isabella of Castile to Mary Tudor to Louise of Savoy to Elizabeth Tudor, there are direct lines of associations to these great ladies. What's to be remembered though is the great historical movements these women witnessed as heads of state, most importantly the Reformation.
The beginning of this book was new information for me, but as the century progressed, the history became more rote. If one is an English of French history buff much of the last several chapters can be skipped.
Lenten Buddy Reading Challenge book #4
The beginning of this book was new information for me, but as the century progressed, the history became more rote. If one is an English of French history buff much of the last several chapters can be skipped.
Lenten Buddy Reading Challenge book #4
February 5, 2017
Fabulous history. Griswold is genius in her depth of context and "eyes" for all nuance for this pivotal 16th century. 4.5 stars. Only reason for my not rounding up is the complexity. It is perhaps only in my own inability to follow such inter-related lines of heredity and multiple titled nomenclature.
Her gender cognition for every character is 5 star. As is the personality and core self identity for myriad women AND men. The research is intensive and the charting and photos some of the most instructive to crux of purposes and goals I have viewed.
This is an extremely difficult read. It took me at least 4 times per average time read than a normal modern non-fiction read. It's a book I would like to own for reference. I do have high interest in this period. Gristwood does NOT over inflate the Elizabeth I role as essential female savvy model as some others do, IMHO. But considers how other women in various precarious placements used every genius ploy or option for survival and progress in highest intelligence and association to protections of family and national strength /solidity.
Her gender cognition for every character is 5 star. As is the personality and core self identity for myriad women AND men. The research is intensive and the charting and photos some of the most instructive to crux of purposes and goals I have viewed.
This is an extremely difficult read. It took me at least 4 times per average time read than a normal modern non-fiction read. It's a book I would like to own for reference. I do have high interest in this period. Gristwood does NOT over inflate the Elizabeth I role as essential female savvy model as some others do, IMHO. But considers how other women in various precarious placements used every genius ploy or option for survival and progress in highest intelligence and association to protections of family and national strength /solidity.
May 27, 2019
I quite enjoyed this.
I could do without the weird sexist tropes around Anne Boleyn but otherwise fantastic.
I could do without the weird sexist tropes around Anne Boleyn but otherwise fantastic.
November 12, 2017
I loved this book because it describes in detail these female rulers who ran Europe in the 16th century. As a woman, I found this very insightful and the author didn't demean the women. It also inspired me to continue to go against the grain and be great! Highly recommend!
My Rating: 4.5 stars
My Rating: 4.5 stars
December 7, 2016
Detailed and wonderfully written book celebrating powerful queens of Western Europe. Starting with Isabella of Spain and ending with Elizabeth I . Gristwood writes of the various women from England, The Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, and France and how they impacted history. Isabella of Spain broke the mold as a warrior queen, setting the precedent of a woman taking control of her country as well as standing beside her troops in battle. With each new personality, Gristwood shows how they influenced the next generation of queens in training. Isabella's fierce ability to govern and defend her country set the example for her own daughter Katherine of Aragon to act as regent in Henry's absence and defeat the Scots at Flodden. Similarly, the author compares Margaret Tudor's role in Scotland as well as Anne of France's impact on the girls she mentored. The author moves through time, describing the dynamics of Marguerite of Savoy's relationship with both her brother, Francis I and her mother, Louise of Savoy. Each new era brings a widening influence affecting women across Europe, the older queens tutoring the younger girls in their future roles. Interestingly, she writes that Anne Boleyn's failure and ultimate downfall may have been the result of her not being an actual princess, her common roots leaving her unprepared the navigate the dangerous shoals of palace politics. She asserts that Boleyn was so caught up in the idea of courtly love, she had no understanding of when to stop and perhaps protect herself. She shows the differences of a political savvy Marguerite of Navarre played with her brother, the king, when he forced an undesirable marriage on her daughter. Marguerite understood the dangerous dance of when to push and when to retreat, unlike Anne who did not. Mary of Hungary, Catherine de Medici, Elizabeth 1, Mary of Guise, Mary of Scotland, are a few of the ruling queens mentioned. The times created women who learned how to steer the world, shaping bloodlines as well as borders with quiet strength. They changed what they believed in with passionate dedication, proving leadership did not belong solely in a king's hands.
Interesting, at times, riveting, this is a fascinating glimpse into a world that is too often overshadowed by the achievements of kings rather than the women who surrounded and influenced them.
Interesting, at times, riveting, this is a fascinating glimpse into a world that is too often overshadowed by the achievements of kings rather than the women who surrounded and influenced them.
February 6, 2017
This is like a college text book for a course on powerful women from Isabella I of Spain to Elizabeth I of England. I believe it was written in anticipation of Ms.Clinton joining Merkel and May on the world stage as the most powerful group of women rulers since the 16th century.
February 27, 2017
History makes it very clear that women often held a diminished (or even non-existent) role in politics, leadership, and even the marital sphere. The female gender, however, had more of an influence and control than one perceives especially during that of Medieval/Renaissance Europe. Sarah Gristwood brings to the forefront examples of these lionesses in, “Game of Queens: The Women Who Made Sixteenth-Century Europe”.
In “Games of Queens”, Gristwood attempts to highlight the roles and interactions of several females of interest who impacted European political affairs such as: Isabella of Castile, Margaret of Austria, Mary of Burgundy, Mary of Hungary, Louise of Savoy, Catherine de Medici, Margaret Tudor, Mary Stuart, Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I, and Anne of Brittany; to name a few. This is a lofty goal by Gristwood as the web of these women is thick and heavily intertwined. Yet, whether Gristwood is successful or not, is laid aside momentarily for the mere fact of the attempt at this fresh and unique look at history which is often glossed over. Although shelves are rife with individual biographies; Gristwood stands out presenting the macro-view of all these women.
That being said, “Game of Queens” certainly suffers from a bombardment of content that can feel disorganized, repetitive, and sometimes aimless. This isn’t necessarily a fault of Gristwood’s as she has clearly conducted her research and isn’t short of material; however, her writing seems to be a bit overwhelmed which decidedly makes “Games of Queens” overwhelming, in turn. Thus, readers may have a difficult time retaining all of the information offered on the pages.
On the other hand, even though fact-retention is an issue; the overall thesis of proving how important these women were to European history is very clear, solidified, and will impress the reader. In this manner, “Games of Queens” is a compelling piece of writing.
At times, Gristwood is slightly too casual with her tone and language which is inconsistent with other efforts to be on the academic spectrum. This, fortunately, isn’t overly abused with “Game of Queens”; but it is noticeable (Gristwood, for example, seems to be obsessed with the term, ‘party’).
Gristwood peppers “Games of Queens” with some speculative statements yet she also excels with presenting some new information or that which is not generally discussed in the foreground adding to the reader value of the text.
The second half of “Game of Queens” is notable smoother in terms of Gristwood’s choppiness with the content having much more of an appeal and strength. Gristwood debunks some myths and presents some convincing information raising the echelon of the text. “Games of Queens” is much more entertaining at this point and helps to make the weaker former portion more forgivable.
Much of the latter chapters focuses on the Tudor and English connections versus the other women discussed earlier in “Game of Queens”. This is a bit constrained for those familiar with the Tudors. Yet, Griswood continues to uncover some lesser-known areas and “Game of Queens” is therefore better suited to be read with some breaks in order to grasp all of the material. Consequentially, “Game of Queens” proceeds to lose the grip on dissection the roles of the women and missing the thesis instead becoming a standard history-recall piece. At this point, the pace slacks a bit.
A highlight in the concluding chapters is Gristwood’s explanation of the St. Bartholomew’s Massacre which she presents in a riveting and raw voice. The material is easy-to-understand for those new to the topic but is also entertaining for those well-read on the subject.
Gristwood sums up “Games of Queens” with a strong postscript traversing the after-effects and state of Europe post-the discussed women in power. This is followed by a light ‘Notes’ section which also offers some sources for further reading (but, sadly, this is not as in-depth as some fact-checking readers would prefer). “Games of Queens” also includes a section of color plate photos.
Gristwood generally strives to pen pieces focusing on unique subjects or angles of history and “Games of Queens” is no exception. Although “Game of Queens” suffers from some execution issues and some consistency errors; it is a ‘solid’ choice for imbibing on the subject and gaining some insight. “Game of Queens” is recommended for those interested in powerful women of the sixteenth century.
In “Games of Queens”, Gristwood attempts to highlight the roles and interactions of several females of interest who impacted European political affairs such as: Isabella of Castile, Margaret of Austria, Mary of Burgundy, Mary of Hungary, Louise of Savoy, Catherine de Medici, Margaret Tudor, Mary Stuart, Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I, and Anne of Brittany; to name a few. This is a lofty goal by Gristwood as the web of these women is thick and heavily intertwined. Yet, whether Gristwood is successful or not, is laid aside momentarily for the mere fact of the attempt at this fresh and unique look at history which is often glossed over. Although shelves are rife with individual biographies; Gristwood stands out presenting the macro-view of all these women.
That being said, “Game of Queens” certainly suffers from a bombardment of content that can feel disorganized, repetitive, and sometimes aimless. This isn’t necessarily a fault of Gristwood’s as she has clearly conducted her research and isn’t short of material; however, her writing seems to be a bit overwhelmed which decidedly makes “Games of Queens” overwhelming, in turn. Thus, readers may have a difficult time retaining all of the information offered on the pages.
On the other hand, even though fact-retention is an issue; the overall thesis of proving how important these women were to European history is very clear, solidified, and will impress the reader. In this manner, “Games of Queens” is a compelling piece of writing.
At times, Gristwood is slightly too casual with her tone and language which is inconsistent with other efforts to be on the academic spectrum. This, fortunately, isn’t overly abused with “Game of Queens”; but it is noticeable (Gristwood, for example, seems to be obsessed with the term, ‘party’).
Gristwood peppers “Games of Queens” with some speculative statements yet she also excels with presenting some new information or that which is not generally discussed in the foreground adding to the reader value of the text.
The second half of “Game of Queens” is notable smoother in terms of Gristwood’s choppiness with the content having much more of an appeal and strength. Gristwood debunks some myths and presents some convincing information raising the echelon of the text. “Games of Queens” is much more entertaining at this point and helps to make the weaker former portion more forgivable.
Much of the latter chapters focuses on the Tudor and English connections versus the other women discussed earlier in “Game of Queens”. This is a bit constrained for those familiar with the Tudors. Yet, Griswood continues to uncover some lesser-known areas and “Game of Queens” is therefore better suited to be read with some breaks in order to grasp all of the material. Consequentially, “Game of Queens” proceeds to lose the grip on dissection the roles of the women and missing the thesis instead becoming a standard history-recall piece. At this point, the pace slacks a bit.
A highlight in the concluding chapters is Gristwood’s explanation of the St. Bartholomew’s Massacre which she presents in a riveting and raw voice. The material is easy-to-understand for those new to the topic but is also entertaining for those well-read on the subject.
Gristwood sums up “Games of Queens” with a strong postscript traversing the after-effects and state of Europe post-the discussed women in power. This is followed by a light ‘Notes’ section which also offers some sources for further reading (but, sadly, this is not as in-depth as some fact-checking readers would prefer). “Games of Queens” also includes a section of color plate photos.
Gristwood generally strives to pen pieces focusing on unique subjects or angles of history and “Games of Queens” is no exception. Although “Game of Queens” suffers from some execution issues and some consistency errors; it is a ‘solid’ choice for imbibing on the subject and gaining some insight. “Game of Queens” is recommended for those interested in powerful women of the sixteenth century.
February 5, 2017
In the 16th century Europe there was a significant amount of behind the scenes and occasionally center stage of female power. Sarah Gristwood has in this book attempted to make it into a cohesive zeitgeist of the era. So was there a mighty female sisterhood in the 1500s? This book doesn't really convince of it. Exhaustive as it is exhausting, the narrative jumps across timelines and countries at a flickeringly mad or madly flickering rate, bouncing between the characters named out of such a limited unimaginative pool of names that it's actual work just to maintain the separate treads of all the Margarets (Marguerites) and Marys (Maries) and so on, all following more or less the same template of life as preset by times and position. But that aside, the women in this book are primarily wielding their powers conditionally, as wives, mothers and so on. The book starts off with a powerhouse of Isabella, queen of Spain, but since then the women are at best regents, seldom regnants, with notable exception of the star of the game, Elizabeth I. In Europe Salic Law wasn't to be defied. There is, as one would expect, much time devoted to Tudors and their machinations, most of it was already known to me, but it's always nice to refresh one's knowledge. That's the thing with this book, it strings together many facts to tangentially support a theory, but it mainly overwhelms and still not enough to ignore the fact that these women, ambitious, clever and strong as they were, were empowered primarily through things like the horrid mortality rates and low life expectancies, often leaving a woman to help rule the land for her infant child too soon on the throne. Most of the women in this account have circumstantially been put and maintained in the positions of power. Only Elizabeth I, after biding her time and waiting out competition, have really secured her throne through personal effort, combination of terrific political astuteness and will power. Majority of the rest of these queens were still treated as customary to the times like cattle, to sell, trade, marry off at an alarmingly young age, breed and so on. This may stand as an account of how several exceptional women have made their best of the terrible situations they were repeatedly put in, but to describe them as major players might be an overstatement. Gynocracy is still very much a utopian concept, so much so that my computer actually is refusing to recognize the word. What's interesting is that in present day, centuries later, there is still a great inequality when it comes to female leaders. Most of the world nations have never had female in charge. North America, for example (with a tiny exception of 4 months served by Canadian prime minister). The number of female leaders is on the rise globally and yet most nations, USA for example, is apparently too devoted to the traditional Aristotelian idea of a country as a family ruled by the father figure. Sure, currently some of Europe's most important leaders are women, but it's fascinating to see the statistics which show female rule as a relative norm in what is viewed as traditionally gender conservative places, while certain presumably more progressive and equality minded ones find the idea repugnant enough to consider that...Anyway, in that way this book has a certain political relevance and it's certainly something to think about. Gender politics are fascinating, but depressing, the way most politics are. Game of Queens is an interesting book, it's educational which was my main goal behind reading it, but too dense, too erratically structured and ultimately too much work to genuinely enjoy. Interspersed with fiction, it took days to get through, but some things were learned.
April 7, 2017
"Game of Queens" was a fascinating read, focusing on the power and chessboard politics of various queens, regents and important women of the sixteenth century. Author Sarah Gristwood really knows her stuff, and her writing is clear and factual without becoming dry.
I knew a lot about many of the women going in (Anne Boleyn, Katharine of Aragon, Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I, Mary I) but it was definitely nice to revisit these figures and to be able to fit what I know of them into the larger picture of world politics at that time. There were some new figures introduced to me that I didn't find as interesting (Mary of Hungary, Jeanne d'Albret), but I did see their importance within the puzzle. And there were some women I had known little things about before but that I was really in-depth introduced to here (Margaret of Austria and Catherine de Medici, to name a couple). I am definitely inspired to go forth and read some more about those two.
This book is great for anyone interested in queenly history or women's politics and triumphs in a century not set up for their success (is any century?). Side note: the last paragraph says with pride that the author is writing at a time when a female is challenging the highest office in the most powerful country in the world, and that was just a sucker punch in the gut. If we'd only known how that would turn out.
I knew a lot about many of the women going in (Anne Boleyn, Katharine of Aragon, Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I, Mary I) but it was definitely nice to revisit these figures and to be able to fit what I know of them into the larger picture of world politics at that time. There were some new figures introduced to me that I didn't find as interesting (Mary of Hungary, Jeanne d'Albret), but I did see their importance within the puzzle. And there were some women I had known little things about before but that I was really in-depth introduced to here (Margaret of Austria and Catherine de Medici, to name a couple). I am definitely inspired to go forth and read some more about those two.
This book is great for anyone interested in queenly history or women's politics and triumphs in a century not set up for their success (is any century?). Side note: the last paragraph says with pride that the author is writing at a time when a female is challenging the highest office in the most powerful country in the world, and that was just a sucker punch in the gut. If we'd only known how that would turn out.
May 26, 2024
Solid 3.5/5
I enjoyed this nonfiction about the influential reigns of various queens across Europe in 1500s. It's a fresh look at politics in a tumultuous century and how women wielded power unexpectedly often during those trying times.
It isn't perfect: the text can be speculative and repetitive, but it's a fascinating read -- the earliest chapters in particular because they focus on figures like Louise of Savoy, Margaret Tudor, and Margaret of Austria. More well-known queens (Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I) are also featured but much more familiar to an audience likely to seek this book out.
I enjoyed this nonfiction about the influential reigns of various queens across Europe in 1500s. It's a fresh look at politics in a tumultuous century and how women wielded power unexpectedly often during those trying times.
It isn't perfect: the text can be speculative and repetitive, but it's a fascinating read -- the earliest chapters in particular because they focus on figures like Louise of Savoy, Margaret Tudor, and Margaret of Austria. More well-known queens (Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I) are also featured but much more familiar to an audience likely to seek this book out.
February 16, 2017
Fascinating look at the woman who dominated sixteenth century Europe. There are names most people know, like Isabelle of Castille, her daughter - Katherine of Aragon, and Anne Boelyn. But also women less known to the average person like Margaret of Hungary, Louise of Savoy, and Jeanne De'Albrecht.
A deeply interesting book showcasing the female and often feminist side of history.
Highly recommended.
A deeply interesting book showcasing the female and often feminist side of history.
Highly recommended.
February 20, 2017
Fabulous history. I've always thought so. The sixteenth century was a time of various political and religious conflicts. It was all so very riveting. Why, then, is 'Game of Queens' terribly slow at times?
The answer to that is because it is not a history. It is discussion of how the queens related to each other. 'Game of Queens' isn't just a catchy title; it is a theme repeatedly emphasised. "Juana would be no player in the game of queens...." Gristwood forces down our throats the idea of Renaissance Europe being a chessboard.
Another theme was linking the queens together in a sisterhood. Their connections are repeatedly emphasised while we learn hardly anything about them personally or about the complex conflicts of the time. It was infuriating at times. I have a huge interest in the women discussed because they were ambitious, brave and determined. I wanted to know more about them and was disappointed. To be fair, though, I think if I had read this before I was well-versed in these period of history then I would have liked it. It's a good introduction - hence the two stars instead of one. Still, unless you are new to this area of history, 'Game of Queens' is not recommended.
The answer to that is because it is not a history. It is discussion of how the queens related to each other. 'Game of Queens' isn't just a catchy title; it is a theme repeatedly emphasised. "Juana would be no player in the game of queens...." Gristwood forces down our throats the idea of Renaissance Europe being a chessboard.
Another theme was linking the queens together in a sisterhood. Their connections are repeatedly emphasised while we learn hardly anything about them personally or about the complex conflicts of the time. It was infuriating at times. I have a huge interest in the women discussed because they were ambitious, brave and determined. I wanted to know more about them and was disappointed. To be fair, though, I think if I had read this before I was well-versed in these period of history then I would have liked it. It's a good introduction - hence the two stars instead of one. Still, unless you are new to this area of history, 'Game of Queens' is not recommended.
February 17, 2017
2.5 stars
While reading this, I couldn't help wonder why I was struggling with it. It's a historical period I enjoy reading about with the additional bonus of focusing on the women in power. I have very much enjoyed previous books by this author so it wasn't the writing style. Having finished, I've concluded that it was simply that Gristwood tried to cover too many people and too long of a time period. It needed a tighter focus so that more depth could be explored for me to enjoy it.
While reading this, I couldn't help wonder why I was struggling with it. It's a historical period I enjoy reading about with the additional bonus of focusing on the women in power. I have very much enjoyed previous books by this author so it wasn't the writing style. Having finished, I've concluded that it was simply that Gristwood tried to cover too many people and too long of a time period. It needed a tighter focus so that more depth could be explored for me to enjoy it.
September 30, 2017
Does not work as popular history: short choppy chapters that whip back and forth between the various women, with no real feeling for said women so it is hard to tell them apart. Does not work as history: don't feel her argument very convincing that this group of women were all that powerful. Like most women, they were pawns dealt by the men in their lives (fathers, husbands, brothers, whatever), and even if they were named regent for a child it was more or less an interim thing that could and was taken away when something better came up. Possibly Isabella of Castile and Elizabeth I were outside this sad cliche but even they were more looked at as something to get around rather than admired as powerful women. Author's footnotes were scant and often seemed to consist of catty remarks. Not recommended.
March 28, 2017
Really enjoyable book, filled in my knowledge of the history of the time period (1500s) very nicely. I especially liked how it linked events in England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire - Spain, the Netherlands, the German states, and covered the role of religious dispute and reformation in a very clear and nonpartisan way.
May 14, 2017
This book interweaves the stories of the influential women of 16th century western Europe in illuminating ways. The interplay of the less famous women (or at least, less famous to me) were the most intriguing aspects, specifically Jeanne d'Albret (Queen of Navarre) and her involvement in the Wars of Religion, but also Margaret of Austria, regent of the Netherlands but mentor to much of the leadership of Europe, male and female, for the better part of that century. We typically read about ONLY Queen Elizabeth, but not necessarily in context and relation to Catherine de Medici and other significant women of the time.
The author seems to suggest that their challenges to the view of women's role resulted in a backlash that began in the next century and continued on until questionably even today. But one might argue that backlash is always one heartbeat away when women challenge their traditional roles. I am excited to read a book mentioned in the postscript that takes a look at women's leadership over the scope of recorded history (Boadicea's Chariot, by Antonia Fraser) and place this specific century in that broader context.
On a practical note, this book is written in a very engaging manner with the right balance of details and pace.
The author seems to suggest that their challenges to the view of women's role resulted in a backlash that began in the next century and continued on until questionably even today. But one might argue that backlash is always one heartbeat away when women challenge their traditional roles. I am excited to read a book mentioned in the postscript that takes a look at women's leadership over the scope of recorded history (Boadicea's Chariot, by Antonia Fraser) and place this specific century in that broader context.
On a practical note, this book is written in a very engaging manner with the right balance of details and pace.
November 10, 2022
En esta novela histórica se puede encontrar un excelente recorrido a través de la política del s.XVI, que está enfocado en la influencia y el poder que, de forma excepcional, ostentaron algunas damas de talento singular. Sin duda, vale la pena conocer cómo las mujeres fueron tomando cada vez más protagonismo en los acontecimientos históricos de sus países, y los retos específicos que tuvieron que afrontar.
_________
In this historical novel you can find an excellent journey through the politics of the 16th century, which is focused on the influence and power that, exceptionally, some ladies of singular talent held. Undoubtedly, it is worth knowing how women were increasingly taking a leading role in the historical events of their countries, and the specific challenges they had to face.
_________
In this historical novel you can find an excellent journey through the politics of the 16th century, which is focused on the influence and power that, exceptionally, some ladies of singular talent held. Undoubtedly, it is worth knowing how women were increasingly taking a leading role in the historical events of their countries, and the specific challenges they had to face.
April 30, 2019
http://www.hyperebaaktiivne.ee/2019/0...
Tänu kirjastusele Argo sain võimaluse täiendada oma teadmisi 16. sajandil Euroopat valitsenud naiste osas. Lugesin nimelt Sarah Gristwoodi teost "Kuningannade mäng" ja sain teada, et neid naisi on vapustavalt palju!
1474-1603, Euroopa. Ajaloos on üks enam-vähem saja aasta pikkune periood, kus mitmes Euroopa riigis korraga oli võim naise käes. Üldise arvamuse järgi olid naised muidugi nõrgem sugu ning vajasid enda kõrvale meest. Seetõttu on vähem riike, kus kuninganna üksi troonil istus ning rohkem neid, kus naine võimu reagendina teostas. Tuntumad 16. sajandi kuningannadest on ilmselt šoti Mary Stuart ning inglastest ema ja tütar Anne Boleyn ja Elizabeth Tudor. Naiste käes oli sel sajandil võim aga ka näiteks Kastiilias, Madalmaades või Prantsusmaal.
Ta oleks sündinud suurimaks valitsejaks, kui ainult "loodus poleks talle keelanud kohast sugu".
"Kuningannade mäng" on väga infomahukas ning ei ole kindlasti ühe õhtu ega päeva meelelahutus, sest lugemine vajab keskendumist. Kohati oli lugu põnevam ning kergemini jälgitav, teised peatükid kahvatusid keskendudes tugevamalt poliitikale või usuküsimustele, mis mind nii väga ei huvitanud. Raamat kulgeb kronoloogilises järjestuses. Ühest küljest see meeldis mulle, sest sai aimu, mis samal ajal Euroopa erinevaid paigus toimus. Teisest küljest oli raske järge pidada, kuna tegevus liikus pidevalt ühe kuninganna juurest teise juurde ning vahepeal läks meelest, mis temaga varasemalt toimunud oli. Enamik kuningannasid sulasid minu jaoks kokku. Seda ei kergendanud ka sarnased nimed, näiteks Margarethe eri variatsioonides oli väga popp nimi. Kuigi põnevam oli lugeda naistest, kelle tegudest ma varem kuulnud ei olnud, siis lõpuks jäi ikka meelde see, mis toimus tuntumatega.
"Vaenlane võib ju rünnata mu sugu, sest mina olen naine; nii võin mina samamoodi rünnata nendesarnaseid, sest nemad pole muud kui mehed."
Raamatu algus kõneles kuningannade asemel hoopis malenditest ning tõi välja paar huvitavat fakti lipu kohta, mida ma varem ei teadnud. Kõik malefännid on muidugi kursis, et algselt olid kõik inimkujulised figuurid meessoost. Kuninganna ehk lipp ilmus lauale alles mängu levimisega Euroopasse ning algul oli tegu nõrga malendiga. Siinkohal tuleb sisse seos raamatu ülejäänud sisuga: nimelt just Kastiilia Isabeli valitsetavas Hispaanias omandas ta tänapäeval tuttava võimu.
"Sul peavad olema silmad, et kõike märgata ja ometi mitte midagi näha, kõrvad, et kõike kuulda ja ometi mitte midagi teada, ning keel, et kõikidele vastata ja ometi mitte kellegi kohta midagi halba öelda."
Lisaks sellele põnevale malefaktile, jäi mulle raamatust kõige tugevamalt meelde, kui läbipõimunud olid kuninglikud pered, ja kuidas pool poliitikast oli abielu. Kihlumisi ja pulmi oli raamatus palju. Natuke õõvastav oli ka lugeda, kuidas üritati 11-12aastaseid tüdrukuid kaitsta, et esimest pulmaööd veel aastake edasi lükata. Teadsin seda muidugi varem ka, aga ei olnud niivõrd hästi faktidega illustreeritult kokku puutunud. Seda ajastut iseloomustas paratamatult ka lühike eluiga - kahekümnendates naine võis olla juba mitmekordne lesk. Üks suur faktor, mis sel sajandil veel võimumänge mõjutas oli usu lahknemine. Ei saa ju troonile lasta valitsejat, kelle religiooni rahvas ei toeta.
"Kuningannade mäng" hõlmab 16 peategelast, 5 riiki ja sajandijagu ajalugu ning on hea ülevaade, millised naised olid võimul, kuidas nad sinna jõudsid, mida nad korda saatsid, kuidas teised sellesse suhtusid jne. Raamat on tihedalt informatsiooni täis ja vajab keskendumist, et end poliitilistest intriigidest läbi närida. Meelelahutuslik ta just pole, aga soovitan teda lugeda, kui on huvi naisvalitsejate või lihtsalt ajaloo vastu!
Aitäh, Kirjastus Argo, raamatu eest!
Tänu kirjastusele Argo sain võimaluse täiendada oma teadmisi 16. sajandil Euroopat valitsenud naiste osas. Lugesin nimelt Sarah Gristwoodi teost "Kuningannade mäng" ja sain teada, et neid naisi on vapustavalt palju!
1474-1603, Euroopa. Ajaloos on üks enam-vähem saja aasta pikkune periood, kus mitmes Euroopa riigis korraga oli võim naise käes. Üldise arvamuse järgi olid naised muidugi nõrgem sugu ning vajasid enda kõrvale meest. Seetõttu on vähem riike, kus kuninganna üksi troonil istus ning rohkem neid, kus naine võimu reagendina teostas. Tuntumad 16. sajandi kuningannadest on ilmselt šoti Mary Stuart ning inglastest ema ja tütar Anne Boleyn ja Elizabeth Tudor. Naiste käes oli sel sajandil võim aga ka näiteks Kastiilias, Madalmaades või Prantsusmaal.
Ta oleks sündinud suurimaks valitsejaks, kui ainult "loodus poleks talle keelanud kohast sugu".
"Kuningannade mäng" on väga infomahukas ning ei ole kindlasti ühe õhtu ega päeva meelelahutus, sest lugemine vajab keskendumist. Kohati oli lugu põnevam ning kergemini jälgitav, teised peatükid kahvatusid keskendudes tugevamalt poliitikale või usuküsimustele, mis mind nii väga ei huvitanud. Raamat kulgeb kronoloogilises järjestuses. Ühest küljest see meeldis mulle, sest sai aimu, mis samal ajal Euroopa erinevaid paigus toimus. Teisest küljest oli raske järge pidada, kuna tegevus liikus pidevalt ühe kuninganna juurest teise juurde ning vahepeal läks meelest, mis temaga varasemalt toimunud oli. Enamik kuningannasid sulasid minu jaoks kokku. Seda ei kergendanud ka sarnased nimed, näiteks Margarethe eri variatsioonides oli väga popp nimi. Kuigi põnevam oli lugeda naistest, kelle tegudest ma varem kuulnud ei olnud, siis lõpuks jäi ikka meelde see, mis toimus tuntumatega.
"Vaenlane võib ju rünnata mu sugu, sest mina olen naine; nii võin mina samamoodi rünnata nendesarnaseid, sest nemad pole muud kui mehed."
Raamatu algus kõneles kuningannade asemel hoopis malenditest ning tõi välja paar huvitavat fakti lipu kohta, mida ma varem ei teadnud. Kõik malefännid on muidugi kursis, et algselt olid kõik inimkujulised figuurid meessoost. Kuninganna ehk lipp ilmus lauale alles mängu levimisega Euroopasse ning algul oli tegu nõrga malendiga. Siinkohal tuleb sisse seos raamatu ülejäänud sisuga: nimelt just Kastiilia Isabeli valitsetavas Hispaanias omandas ta tänapäeval tuttava võimu.
"Sul peavad olema silmad, et kõike märgata ja ometi mitte midagi näha, kõrvad, et kõike kuulda ja ometi mitte midagi teada, ning keel, et kõikidele vastata ja ometi mitte kellegi kohta midagi halba öelda."
Lisaks sellele põnevale malefaktile, jäi mulle raamatust kõige tugevamalt meelde, kui läbipõimunud olid kuninglikud pered, ja kuidas pool poliitikast oli abielu. Kihlumisi ja pulmi oli raamatus palju. Natuke õõvastav oli ka lugeda, kuidas üritati 11-12aastaseid tüdrukuid kaitsta, et esimest pulmaööd veel aastake edasi lükata. Teadsin seda muidugi varem ka, aga ei olnud niivõrd hästi faktidega illustreeritult kokku puutunud. Seda ajastut iseloomustas paratamatult ka lühike eluiga - kahekümnendates naine võis olla juba mitmekordne lesk. Üks suur faktor, mis sel sajandil veel võimumänge mõjutas oli usu lahknemine. Ei saa ju troonile lasta valitsejat, kelle religiooni rahvas ei toeta.
"Kuningannade mäng" hõlmab 16 peategelast, 5 riiki ja sajandijagu ajalugu ning on hea ülevaade, millised naised olid võimul, kuidas nad sinna jõudsid, mida nad korda saatsid, kuidas teised sellesse suhtusid jne. Raamat on tihedalt informatsiooni täis ja vajab keskendumist, et end poliitilistest intriigidest läbi närida. Meelelahutuslik ta just pole, aga soovitan teda lugeda, kui on huvi naisvalitsejate või lihtsalt ajaloo vastu!
Aitäh, Kirjastus Argo, raamatu eest!
January 11, 2022
This was a fascinating history of the 1500s in Europe through the lenses of the women who ruled during that era. First, there were more of them than just "Bloody" Mary, Queen Elizabeth I, and Mary Queen of Scots. Queens ruled France, Navarre, the Netherlands, and Spain – either outright, in conjunction with their husbands, or as regents for their sons, not to mention as advisors and string-pullers behind the scenes. They revolutionized Europe (and the game of chess, which adopted a queen as the most powerful piece during this time), but they also eventually fell victim to the patriarchal backlash that inevitably follows the specter of women doing powerful things. Of them all, only Isabella in Spain and Elizabeth in England managed to avoid the traps laid for powerful women then (and arguably now), and even Elizabeth's reputation suffered as her reign continued.
In addition to helping partly clear up the confusing tangle of family relations that intermarried across the various kingdoms of Europe (and thank God for the family trees printed in the opening of the book), Gristwood provides a fair and fascinating look at the machinations behind Henry VIII's rejection of Katherine of Aragon and marriage – and eventual disposal – of Anne Boleyn. This and the eventual collapse of relations between Elizabeth and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots (not to be confused with Elizabeth's sister, Queen "Bloody" Mary), provide a sort of double climax that keeps the book moving, even as it shifts focus back and forth between Great Britain and the unending back-and-forth between Spain, France, and the Holy Roman Empire, with its own set of less well known queens, consorts, and regents.
Some elements of Gristwood's writing style grated over time – sentence structure and comma usage frequently made sentences more complicated than they needed to be – but that's a minor thing compared with the sheer impressiveness of her ability to synthesize so many people, events, and conflicts into a fairly slim, readable volume that taught me so much more than I expected to learn about a pivotal century in world history.
In addition to helping partly clear up the confusing tangle of family relations that intermarried across the various kingdoms of Europe (and thank God for the family trees printed in the opening of the book), Gristwood provides a fair and fascinating look at the machinations behind Henry VIII's rejection of Katherine of Aragon and marriage – and eventual disposal – of Anne Boleyn. This and the eventual collapse of relations between Elizabeth and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots (not to be confused with Elizabeth's sister, Queen "Bloody" Mary), provide a sort of double climax that keeps the book moving, even as it shifts focus back and forth between Great Britain and the unending back-and-forth between Spain, France, and the Holy Roman Empire, with its own set of less well known queens, consorts, and regents.
Some elements of Gristwood's writing style grated over time – sentence structure and comma usage frequently made sentences more complicated than they needed to be – but that's a minor thing compared with the sheer impressiveness of her ability to synthesize so many people, events, and conflicts into a fairly slim, readable volume that taught me so much more than I expected to learn about a pivotal century in world history.
January 19, 2020
3.5/5
Está muy bueno el libro. Ojalá goodreads se pusiera las pilas de una vez y habilitara las medias estrellas, pero bueno.
Básicamente cuenta la historia de Europa alrededor del siglo VI y va desde Isabel de Castilla hasta la muerte de María Estuardo.
Este fue un período no sólo marcado por conflictos religiosos sino también por muchas mujeres ejerciendo el poder, ya fuera por derecho propio o desde la regencia.
No hay demasiado que contar porque es todo historia. Mucho conflicto político, problemas de sucesión, matrimonios, muertes, guerras, católicos vs protestantes, etc.
Puede que a lo último se haga un poco pesado. la verdad que las últimas 2 partes, relativas casi enteramente al conflicto entre Isabel Tudor y María, con un poco de Catalina de Médici, me empezó a aburrir bastante… Quizá fuera porque conocía más del asunto o la autora se fuera por las ramas, no sé.
En general es bastante entretenido y, si bien la escritora no es historiadora sino periodista, el libro no es cualquier cosa y todas las fuentes están muy bien explicitadas.
Tantos nombres pueden marear, sobre todo si se repiten (y en la traducción al español son todos iguales) y hay puros Isabeles, Marías, Margaritas, Enriques y Carlos…. Pero por suerte hay una guía de personajes al principio y se van turnando todos en distintos períodos, más o menos.
En fin. Una lectura bastante recomendable y satisfactoria.
Está muy bueno el libro. Ojalá goodreads se pusiera las pilas de una vez y habilitara las medias estrellas, pero bueno.
Básicamente cuenta la historia de Europa alrededor del siglo VI y va desde Isabel de Castilla hasta la muerte de María Estuardo.
Este fue un período no sólo marcado por conflictos religiosos sino también por muchas mujeres ejerciendo el poder, ya fuera por derecho propio o desde la regencia.
No hay demasiado que contar porque es todo historia. Mucho conflicto político, problemas de sucesión, matrimonios, muertes, guerras, católicos vs protestantes, etc.
Puede que a lo último se haga un poco pesado. la verdad que las últimas 2 partes, relativas casi enteramente al conflicto entre Isabel Tudor y María, con un poco de Catalina de Médici, me empezó a aburrir bastante… Quizá fuera porque conocía más del asunto o la autora se fuera por las ramas, no sé.
En general es bastante entretenido y, si bien la escritora no es historiadora sino periodista, el libro no es cualquier cosa y todas las fuentes están muy bien explicitadas.
Tantos nombres pueden marear, sobre todo si se repiten (y en la traducción al español son todos iguales) y hay puros Isabeles, Marías, Margaritas, Enriques y Carlos…. Pero por suerte hay una guía de personajes al principio y se van turnando todos en distintos períodos, más o menos.
En fin. Una lectura bastante recomendable y satisfactoria.
February 5, 2020
I loved this book. While biographies about Elizabeth I, Catherine de Medici, and Mary Queen of Scots are a dime a dozen these days, it's not so for the many other women who rose to prominence in sixteenth century Europe. I was fascinated by the other women that Gristwood brought to the fore, many whose names I had heard before but knew little about, which really whetted my appetite.
Anne de Beaujeu, Margaret of Austria, Marguerite of Navarre, Louise of Savoy, Jeanne d'Albert, and the other Queens or queen-like figures who rose to high positions during this period are absolutely fascinating. As I said, I had heard of most of them, usually briefly in other books I read about other figures of this period, but Gristwood did an amazing job introducing them to me in enough detail to get me interested in learning more about them.
A real treat, and very well-written.
Anne de Beaujeu, Margaret of Austria, Marguerite of Navarre, Louise of Savoy, Jeanne d'Albert, and the other Queens or queen-like figures who rose to high positions during this period are absolutely fascinating. As I said, I had heard of most of them, usually briefly in other books I read about other figures of this period, but Gristwood did an amazing job introducing them to me in enough detail to get me interested in learning more about them.
A real treat, and very well-written.
March 1, 2019
Absolutely brilliant book on equally brilliant and interesting women. I am quite familiar with what was happening in France, England and Scotland, so it was nice to learn more about other European countries and figures. Highly recommend!
September 17, 2024
Detailed look at various powerful women who shaped the fates of Europe during the 16th century. An interesting read that also covers some lesser known figures in addition to the "usual suspects" such as Isabella of Castile, Catherine de Medici, and the Tudor queens.
August 21, 2024
Women really are the foundation of society and men don't do shit for shit
July 5, 2023
Väl värd en läsning
March 23, 2017
I find the Renaissance period one of the most fascinating in history and, especially when the focus is so often on England and on men, I was therefore extremely excited to win a copy of Game of Queens in a Goodreads giveaway. And I wasn't disappointed.
Gristwood both presents the stories of individual queens, and weaves their stories together to show their impact on one another and on Europe as a whole, using the analogy of a chessboard throughout without forcing it too hard upon the reader. The information is clear and concise, and Gristwood often speculates to interesting effect where the evidence is lacking. Particularly impressive is the way in which she navigates the reader so smoothly through the book, despite the diverse range of women, countries, and time periods. What led me to give a five-star rating is the surprising ease with which I was able to read Game of Queens. I often find books of this nature to be a challenging, although rewarding read, because of the sheer amount of information. However, Gristwood's style of writing and choice of structure makes it a relatively easy read, as do the short chapters.
I thoroughly enjoyed Games of Queens and would highly recommend it.
Gristwood both presents the stories of individual queens, and weaves their stories together to show their impact on one another and on Europe as a whole, using the analogy of a chessboard throughout without forcing it too hard upon the reader. The information is clear and concise, and Gristwood often speculates to interesting effect where the evidence is lacking. Particularly impressive is the way in which she navigates the reader so smoothly through the book, despite the diverse range of women, countries, and time periods. What led me to give a five-star rating is the surprising ease with which I was able to read Game of Queens. I often find books of this nature to be a challenging, although rewarding read, because of the sheer amount of information. However, Gristwood's style of writing and choice of structure makes it a relatively easy read, as do the short chapters.
I thoroughly enjoyed Games of Queens and would highly recommend it.
February 20, 2020
**read for class**
Being really interested in the queens of the Tudor era, I really didn’t think this book would be that bad. However, it wasn’t the content as much as the organization of the book that made it difficult to read. The book kept jumping from country to country, going back and forward in time, throwing out random names, to the point I had no idea who was who and was just reading empty words. Eventually, I just ended up skipping entire chapters about France whole reading about England, then went back and read all the chapters on France. Unless you are a history master in this time period, you won’t get anything out of this book.
Being really interested in the queens of the Tudor era, I really didn’t think this book would be that bad. However, it wasn’t the content as much as the organization of the book that made it difficult to read. The book kept jumping from country to country, going back and forward in time, throwing out random names, to the point I had no idea who was who and was just reading empty words. Eventually, I just ended up skipping entire chapters about France whole reading about England, then went back and read all the chapters on France. Unless you are a history master in this time period, you won’t get anything out of this book.
June 24, 2018
An absolutely riveting group biography of the queens and other women who changed the face of sixteenth-century Europe. From Isabelle of Castile through the reign of Elizabeth I of England, this is a fascinating and well-researched epic of the women who became queens, soldiers, mothers, allies and enemies. A must-read for anyone fascinated by European history.
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