Uppity Women of Medieval Times

This was the first "Uppity" book by Leon that I read. Its great reading for many reasons. The mini biographies are well written, get right to why anyone should care about the place of these women in history, and are formatted in such a way that a person can read one bio or twenty in a sitting-- depending on how much time the person has.Also, Leon's sense of humor keeps the bios interesting and makes for easier reading.

Everyone has heard of the famous females Brunhilda and Joan of Arc as well as ladies like the Countess Bathory and Mary, Queen of Scots. However, there are scores of interesting women in history and author Vicki Leon proves this over and over in her Uppity Women book series.After reading Uppity Women of Medieval Times, I became an immediate fan of Leon's work. She brings a fresh approach to history with her series and I highly recommend all of her Uppity Women books as both educational and entertaining reading. The books also make excellent gifts for the Uppity Women in your life!

As an author of historical fiction myself ("Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn" and "The Queen's Bastard") I found myself completely educated and entertained by this uppity woman's take on some of history's most fascinating women. Leon's research is absolutly staggering and her love of the subject is evident. Some of the above criticism of the book is laughable. Of course it's not for someone doing in-depth research on a particular woman, but it gives a fabulous overveiw that you will not find anywhere else.

I first picked up this book because of the title. Uppity Women?? I thought it was funny and when I started reading it got even better. If you hate those HUGE long winded history books but you still like to learn then this book is for you. With only one page devoted to each woman it's a fast read and an interesting one. You'll learn about Erzabet Bathory from Romania who belived that bathing in the blood of young girls was the key to staying young herself. And Elanor of Auquatine who divorced the French king to marry a younger than herself English king!

When it came to recording history, many ancient historians downplayed the role of women. Author Vicki Leon has set out to ensure that women - both famous and infamous - fill their rightful place in the annals of time. As a writer, Leon has a style that is fresh, as in brazen, a tone that is witty and a voice that is modern and American. "Uppity Women" is filled with sketches of women who changed the world a little and women who changed the world a lot. One such lady, Helene Kottanerin, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth of Hungary, was ordered into service as a secret agent. Her task was to steal the royal crown from Visegrad Castle for Elizabeth's infant son (the king-to-be). Kottanerin journeyed by sled over treacherous winter terrain. She successfully absconded with the royal crown, but barely survived the return trip when her sleigh plunged through the ice into the freezing Danube. Despite this misfortune, Kottanerin completed the mission and later penned her memoirs. After 500 years, this facinating lady's autobiography still awaits and English translation. Leon's book also includes prominent names such as the prioress Eglentyle of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales." Eglentyle refused to conform to the bishop's dress code for nuns, the basic black habit. Eglentyne, traveled about the world on pilgrimages, baring her forehead and dressed as she pleased wearing gold rings, hairpins, a low-cut dress, adorned with a silver girdle (belt) and furs. Leon gives readers a glimpse of the not-so-nice women in her account of Eszebet Bathory, of Romania. This female contemporary of Dracula had a "yen to stay young" and believed that daily baths in the blood of young girls would do the wonders for her skin. She murdered some 610 young females living about her castle so she could soak in their blood. It was years before she was found out. Eventually she was brought to justice and was walled up in her own castle. Though there is admirable research by Leon, Uppity Women is not weighed down with detail. It is a breezy read.