A review by anovelstart
The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women by Amy Licence

informative inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

 

Thank you, NetGalley and Pen & Sword Books for providing a copy of this book for review. My opinions are my own.

I was surprisingly impressed by Licence’s The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women. I know that the study of women is an up-and-coming area of history. After reading this, I am so glad to see that Licence has done this area justice and it’s finally getting the attention it deserves.

I learnt about some of these women during my degree. I recognised quite a few women and was delighted to find a lot of people who were also unknown to me.

 

The academic side

The first thing I noticed is the range of references. Licence has thoroughly researched each woman and took into consideration the limitations of the evidence. She does this by stating what’s unlikely and doesn’t give any absolutes.

The argument is well-balanced and flows nicely from one woman to the next. Licence err’s on the side of caution in each conclusion too. This is good because we weren’t there and we will never know 100% what happened.

I really enjoyed Licence’s interpretation of sources. Not only do you learn about the women, but also about the culture and period they lived in. Where applicable, she also states the level of scientific knowledge they would have had for the case too. It was really intriguing!

I particularly liked that Licence points out the differences between morality now and back when these women lived and that the norm back then may not be the same as it would be now.

 

Writing style

Licence is very informative about each woman. History books can be very dry, but this is not the case here. It’s both informative, shocking, and entertaining. The pacing is very good and there was a smooth transition between the chapters.

The writing style makes you want to keep reading. She’s has struck the perfect balance between thoroughness and being concise.

 

Diversity

I was surprised to discover the range of people covered in this book. Firstly, although the title clearly states “women”, it covers trans, intersex, and asexuals too. LGBTQIA+ is another area of history that has very little research, so I was very pleased to see this has been taken into consideration too.

Finally, I was expecting The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women to only cover European women (and only the most notable!). This is because that’s what’s traditionally been written about. Surprisingly, it covers African, Russian, Mongol, Hindi, and even fictional women.

The diversity in this book is amazing. The care and research Licence put into the book are clear. Each case specifically states why it was important in its own right, and how it may have affected other women too. The steps every woman took, however small, had an impact on what we’re able to do as women today. It also made me have an appreciation for the struggles each woman and LGBTQIA+ had within their social limitations and cultures.

 

Images

As a sweetener, there are also pictures in the back of the book. I felt that this really helped me connect with the people whose stories they were about.

 

In conclusion

Licence is an amazing author. I’d love to read another book by her. This would be a brilliant start to a series with a book on each woman if she wished it.

I think the way Licence has written this book would make it relatively easy for future historians to continue her work. I would also feel comfortable using this as an academic book on women’s history.

 

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, without reservation. If you have an interest in global women’s or LGBTQIA+ history, I’d highly recommend it.