Bold in Her Breeches
Book description
As far back as 480 BC, when Artemisia commanded her Greek trireme, women have taken to the high seas in pursuit of life and liberty. Simultaneously revered and reviled by superstitious male mariners, the realities of these women pirates' lives have been lost in a murky fog of sexual and…
Why read it?
4 authors picked Bold in Her Breeches as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Anne Bonny and Mary Read weren’t history’s only female pirates – though you’ll find them here alongside some lesser-known names.
From Artemisia in Ancient Greece, though to Grace O’Malley, Cheng I Sao, and more, you’ll find stories on what drove these women to sea, and the freedom it offered them alongside the risks. Fascinating.
From Julie's list on female pirates and their inspiration.
When I was a little girl I wanted to grow up to be a pirate, and women pirates in particular inspired me. They still do. This collection expands on some of the well-known pirates like Ann Bonny, Mary Read, and Grace O’Malley, and brings diversity with tales of non-European pirates who ruled fleets of ships. When I’m writing my pirates, I can look at the historical record and know that while my work is fiction, there’s plenty of historical evidence for women seizing command and carrying the day.
From Darlene's list on women at sea through history (including some pirates).
Bold in her Breeches reclaims the tales of women pirates throughout the ages, starting as far back as 480 BC with the Greek female leader, Artemisia of Caria. Jo Stanley collects an array of diverse and interesting contributions from feminist theorists and maritime historians to record the huge number of unknown women who worked the high seas in various guises. This book helped to remove the romantic trappings from my own central character, Lola Blaise.
From Wendy's list on the real Pirates of the Caribbean.
I picked up this book in a London bookshop long ago and read it on a stay near Land’s End in Cornwall, looking out to sea and dreaming. Just about everything in the book was new to me. It made sense that among the Viking warriors who attacked in their longboats, there were women like the pirate Alfhild, but I’d never heard of Grace O’Malley of Ireland who regularly raided English ships. I was ignorant of the pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read, scourges of the Caribbean, or of the Chinese pirate Cheng I Sao. Stanley’s book, with contributions by…
From Barbara's list on women seafarers and pirates.
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