Review: 100 Nasty Women of History by Hannah Jewell

I haven't been reviewing lately but someone recommended this book to me and even before I started it the title grabbed me. Inspired by Donald Trump calling Hillary Clinton 'such a nasty woman' during the 2016 Presidential campaign Hannah Jewell set out to talk about important women historical figures. Many of them have been all but forgotten as history is more often than not patriarchal not to mention misogynistic. These are women from all over the world and from every time in known history who walked their own paths ignoring custom and even laws to live the lives they chose. They range from empresses and queens through to social rights activists, poets, authors, entertainers and trans women. Many of them lived in times when to go against the status quo was dangerous, even life threatening but they persisted. As products of their times some took on men at their own game and by their rules. This meant they weren't afraid to get their hands dirty and they did. Among them are absolute rulers, generals and pirates. Others, like the anti slavery activists, suffragettes and campaigners for land rights racial equality took the route of resistance. Whoever they may have been and whatever route they took all have in common that they ignored social norms of their times and got down to living life as they chose. Some suffered deeply for those choices and others are now lauded for their activities.
Although I had heard of many there were equally many others I had never heard of and it was a revelation to read about so many amazing women.

But don't think this is a stuffy history book. It definitely is not and doesn't pretend to be. Jewell's writing style is light and entertaining, sprinkled with her own views on subjects like colonialism, racism and misogyny. Her snarky commentary had me laughing out loud at times but be warned it does get sweary so if that bothers you perhaps this is not for you. For the rest of us go for it. It's educational and entertaining and I recommend it highly.

Hannah Jewell is currently the Pop Culture Host on the video team at The Washington Post and was formerly senior staff writer at Buzzfeed UK. Her website is here

Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

The bugles have just sounded and while we waited in silence I thought about those who died and among them was this man.


'In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row'

This is how the famous poem by Canadian medical officer Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae begins. There is some dispute as to the ending of the first line since McCrae wrote two versions, one with the line ending in 'blow' the other in 'grow'. As the first published version - in Punch of December 8, 1915 - used 'blow' I've used that version. You can read the full text here.

John McCrae was a doctor and poet who joined up on the outbreak of war in 1914. He was at the battle of Ypres in 1915 where he wrote his famous poem. He died from pneumonia in France in January 1918.

You can read more about the life of John McCrae here.