Women can be everything, right? Princesses, doctors, painters and...of course, crooks too...They can run drug cartels and order strategic killings and even kill themselves some persistent enemy.
Prolific author of both fiction and non-fiction books, Caitlin Davies investigated stories of women who dared to be successful in just another men´s domain: the unterworld. From the 17th century until today, based on well researched stories and finely selected examples, she is writing a unique history as never did before. Without judging, just exposing the facts, with the curiosity and desire to share the truth that journalists do usually have, as following stories and collecting information.
Based on archives, social history researches and direct interviews with family members of some of the women featured in the book, Queens of the Underworld offers not only a different take on women but also a completely new perspective on the history of the city of London. Some of the episodes automatically made me think of the dark yet historically relatable human moments in the history of the city. At the same time, it also offers a dramatic twists to the ways in which women histories were read and interpreted. Each of the women featured do have a history larger than life to share that take a different angle on the ways in which women´s role were shaped in the society, including the less desirable episodes of the history. Social history, including London´s, cannot be read without women, any kind of women, more or less representative for the Victorian standards.
The book is also available in audiobook format.
Recommended to anyone interested in untold women stories, no matter what they are revealing. It is also an example of topics that definitely need a more frontal approach, both in the fiction and non-fiction realm.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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