Hell Hath No Fury Indeed

Well, readers- this would be the part where the judge says: “Time for closing arguments” and I scramble to include most of the other random thoughts I’ve had rolling around in my grey matter the last few days regarding our most recent book, Hell Hath No Fury.

As Pamela Moran would say, “Have at it!”

Original Spin Doctors?:  To influence troops and/or public opinion Zenobia, Isabella I of Spain, and Elizabeth I all appeared on horseback and in armor before their troops to both inspire and rally their spirits. (See an excerpt from Elizabeth’s speech included in Wednesday’s post for more on exciting the troops.)

Similarly, Catherine the Great, Matilda, Isabella I, Jinga Mbandi, and Elizabeth I dressed in male attire in battle or for ritual ceremonies. The authors suggest that these women used male attire in order to visually excite their soldiers and comrades, and also to look the part of powerful war leader– and male attire, whether in armor or uniform, was shorthand for that kind of authority.

Wartime Women: HHNF

Let me begin by saying that this book was not what I expected. I think I was looking for more narrative, and what I found instead was an encyclopedia. Which is not to say that I didn’t enjoy it…but how does one review an Encyclopedia? Well, you don’t. And while I’ve already critiqued the authors’ usage of language, I’m feeling less than confrontational this evening, and would rather like to share the authors’ informative mission and ensure that these women’s stories become

“better known…encouraging further reading and stimulating a wider interest in these women and their experiences. Women who have served, fought, and died must be given their due” (xx).

On that note…get ready for me to hit you with some knowledge!

Dearbhfhorgaill
Honestly, I just needed you to know that there was a woman named Dearbhfhorgaill (and she probably suffered from the Boy-Named-Sue syndrome). In 1315 she commanded her own army and “marched against the churches of Drumcliffe and plundered many of its clergy” (xxii) because of their oppressive stance against fighting women.

Fighting Words: HHNF

Whilst reading Hell Hath No Fury, I was happy to notice that some of these women had as much fire in their speech as they packed into their punch– alternately inspiring, enraging, or rallying.  I couldn’t help but take note and pass along these few that stood out to me.  Did somebody say soundbite?

Louise Michel, “The Red Virgin” (1830-1905): Defending her part in the burning of Paris: “I wanted to oppose the Versailles invaders with a barrier of flames…Since it appears that every heart that beats for freedom has no right to anything but a slug of lead, I demand my share. If you let me live, I shall never cease to cry for vengeance. If you are not cowards, kill me.”

The Language of Naming: Conundrums Abound

As I’ve been reading Hell Hath No Fury: True Stories of Women at War from Antiquity to Iraq (information overload!  pick it up and get ready to LEARN!), the question of language has arisen time and time again; specifically why we call things what they are.  Prior to reading this book, I was under the impression that words like “aviator” and “ambassador” were gender-neutral.  In fact, according to the dictionary an aviator is a pilot and an ambassador is a diplomat.  So why, oh why, did the authors keep referring to women within these pages as an “aviatrix” or an “ambassadress” (they are real words and mean a female pilot and a female ambassadress respectively)?  Why, when -man isn’t a part of the word, is it necessary to create a separate title for women doing the exact same job?  On a related note, why are “serious” actresses now demanding to be called “actors” instead of “actresses”?

Next Book: Hell Hath No Fury

 The next book we will be reading is Hell Hath No Fury: True Stories of Women at War from Antiquity to Iraq, by Rosalind Miles and Robin Cross. This book is a compilation of biographical essays covering all aspects of women at war: queens, commanders, doctors, spies, you name it– as the title says, from antiquity to the modern day.

About the authors:

ROSALIND MILES, Ph.D., author of Who Cooked the Last Supper?, is a critically acclaimed and internationally bestselling writer, a lecturer and a BBC broadcaster. Military historian ROBIN CROSS is the #1 bestselling author of more than thirty books, a Gulf War reporter, and a former advisor to the UK Ministry of Defence.

Read on!