Lucy Moore (1) (1970–)

I was a little underwhelmed by this book. It is an overview of the most well known events and people in 1920s America. It didn't open my eyes to anything new or make any great historical research strides forward. If you want a quick summary of things such as jazz, Hollywood, prohibition, Capone, KKK, Dempsey rather than reading books about each topic then this will serve that purpose. If you are after how the 1920s America fit into a world wide era of change and upheaval of society, values, politics, technology etc., you will be disappointed. A bit of fluff for US-centric readers.… (altro)

Women's roles in revolution has interested me ever since I studied Modern European history at uni so I was very excited when I found this book. I was even more excited when I discovered it covered some territory I wasn't all that familiar with.

This accessible bio covers the lives of six women (from all classes) who lived and were politically active (or as active as women were allowed to be) during the French Revolution and Napoleonic era. It refreshingly tells the 'other' side of the story, essentially how the various political ideologies and stages of this tumultuous time in France changed women's influence and positions in society. And while that may sound somewhat dry it wasn't at all. I found it very readable and at times almost gossipy (my favourite type of bio) although that's not to say it wasn't well researched with lots of notes, references, glossaries and gorgeous colour plates. Be warned though, it probably pays to know your French Rev. basics before reading as what the men did is mainly covered in reference to the women.

Most enjoyable, as was reading it with my good friend Kim :-).… (altro)