I'm not one to read non-fiction, but I will definitely read a history book about women. Many important female figures have largely been overshadowed by their male counterparts in the majority of historical texts. The fact that I didn't know a lot of those mentioned in this book should be a pretty solid proof of that. I am really glad I got to learn about them through this book. It was very informative and I made want to find more history books to read some.

There are several things that I appreciated about this book. First, I really liked that the stories of the women were told in short biographies that highlighted the impacts that they made and the reasons that they were included in this anthology. Second, I appreciate that women outside of Europe were included in this history. Third, I appreciate that there was a solid attempt to put things in a chronological order even though most of the stories overlapped. I also understand that this was an ARC and the formatting errors will be fixed, but I found it distracting.

There were lots of famous women in the sixteenth century: the six wives of Henry VII to start with, Elizabeth I, 'Bloody' Mary, Mary Queen of Scots., Anne Hathaway (Shakespeare's wife that is, not the actress). And those are just ten of the more obvious ones. Amy Licence's book also includes thumbnail sketches of Medicis, Borgias and minor Tudors while also playing tribute to all the assorted lesser known and even unknown figures who inspired great works of art, conducted love affairs and generally played their part.

When we think of the phrase "16th-century women," we often consider those from royal or noble houses throughout Europe. We tend to think of women like the six wives of Henry VIII, Mary I, Elizabeth I, Catherine de Medici, Mary Queen of Scots, and others associated who made an impact during the Renaissance and the Reformation. However, the 16th century did not stop at the borders of Europe; it extended all over the globe. There are many stories of women from all over the world and from different social classes that can help us understand how the world changed in the 16th century. Amy Licence took this concept and decided to write her latest book about a variety of women from around the world who lived in the 16th century, "The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women."

Thank you, Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley, for sending me a copy of this book. When I heard that Licence was writing this book, it intrigued me. I wanted to know more stories from the 16th century from all around the world.

"The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women" is a collection of 100 mini-biographies of women from every walk of life and every corner of the globe. Licence has decided to organize this particular book in chronological order, with the date emphasis on the significant events of their lives. Staying true to her word, she writes about women from different countries, like Japan, Nigeria, Russia, Mexico, Poland, Chile, Morocco, and Burma, to name a few.

What I loved the most about this book is the diversity of figures that Licence chose to include in this journey from 1500 to 1600. They were not just queens, princesses, and noblewomen. Licence included women who would have been seen as outsiders in everyday society, such as prostitutes during the Banquet of Chestnuts, Margaret Drummond, Ellen Sadler, and La Malinche. There were those whose appearance made them outsiders, like Aura Soltana, Elena/Eleno de Cespedes, and Tognina Gonsalvus. Some women stood up for what they believed was right, such as Cecily Bodenham, abbess of Wilton Abbey, Lady Nata of Japan, Margaret Cheney, Sayyida al-Hurra, and Beatriz de Luna.

Some women suffered horrendous tragedies beyond their control, like Suphankanlaya, whose husband was killed in an angry rage, Amy Robsart, and an unknown woman who dealt with a tsunami in Chile. Others were women who had nasty reputations associated with their lives, such as Elizabeth Bathory, Mary Frith, and the Irish pirate Grace O'Malley. We also see female artists, authors, fictional figures, and those who sat for portraits.

Licence has painted a colorful picture of the 16th century with the 100 miniature biographies she chose to include in this book. This book may highlight only a select few stories of the century, but they were new and enthralling tales of women I had never heard of, which broadened my understanding of the era. An informative, refreshing, and unique approach to the 16th century, "The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women" by Amy Licence is a breath of fresh air for anyone who wants to discover new tales from the past.

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.

While there are countless books about historical women such as Queen Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Anne Boleyn, I often find myself wondering about the lesser-known women of this period. Not just the women from the United Kingdom, but the women around the world. What was happening in their lives? What was their role in history? While most women in history have left little to nothing to posterity, it is possible to gain glimpses of them through the historical records. The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women by Amy Licence provides readers with a snapshot of the lives of 100 sixteenth century women from around the world. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword Books for an advanced copy of this book.

This latest book by Licence opens in the year 1499, with Anne of Brittany, Queen of France. Licence sets the scene for this short yet detailed glimpse back in time. From here, the book continues to move forward chronologically. Through our journey we meet well-known historical figures at significant moments in their life. For example, we travel to 1501 to witness the marriage of Catherine of Aragon to Prince Arthur Tudor. In 1533, we travel to London to witness Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, on the day of her coronation. In 1541, we are observing the brutal execution of Margaret Pole. While in 1553, we are in London, watching Mary Tudor ride through the streets to claim the throne. But what Licence captures so brilliantly in this book is the lives of the lesser-known women of the sixteenth century.

In 1501, we meet the Unnamed Prostitute at the Banquet of Chestnuts. A moment in time that was captured in the diary of the Master of Ceremonies in Rome. Then, in 1513, we travel to London as a visitor, and witness the interactions between a group of London women. We might only be there briefly, as though it is a dream on a restless night. But we bear witness to what these women do, and how they interact on this cold January day. In the year 1520, we travel to Turkey to meet Roxelana, Suleiman the Magnificent’s favourite mistress. While in 1560, we are greeted in Russia by Anastasia Romanova. Or even more curiously, the Unknown Woman who we meet in Chile in 1570, a tsunami survivor.

The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women by Amy Licence is a brilliant snapshot of women throughout this period. Licence’s writing style is highly accessible. Each chapter is dedicated to one of these women, or group of women. As such, the book has great momentum. Rather than viewing the women as isolated characters in history, Licence connects them with one another, powerfully linking these women on a global scale. What I particularly loved about this book, is that it wasn’t simply a short biography of 100 women of the sixteenth century. Instead, it made you part of the journey. You become a time traveller. A witness to 100 moments in time from 100 women in history. If you have an interest in women’s history, or the history of the sixteenth century, then I highly recommend going on this journey with The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women by Amy Licence.

Interesting women, well-known or not, well documented. However if you know a bit of history, most of these women will be familiar to you and you will not learn much about them. I would have wished a bit more depth in the comments, particularly because most of these women were well known to me. An overall good and easy read aimed at readers interested in women's positions in this particular century.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

First and foremost, Licence does an AMAZING job here stressing that time is NOT geography. When she says women of the 16th century, she means women who were alive in the 16th century all around the globe.

Yes, there are a LOT of Tudor women here - but we also read about the lives of women in Mexico and Japan and Chile and Thailand and Russian and North Africa and more. The world is a big place and its important to remember that history took place in more places than just Europe.

A fascinating look at women of all walks of life who lived in the 16th century, further rounding out our perception of the past and showing how many other people were there all along.

A brief but enough information on women, from all over the world, that will make you want to learn more about those you never heard about. Yes, the famous women are included - Queen Mary, Anne Boleyn, etc., but the best are the women who little is written about. Well researched and has pictures. A truly interesting and important book. Thank you to the author, Netgalley and publishers for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Pen & Sword Books in exchange for an honest review.

After wishing for this book on NetGalley, I was randomly selected to receive it, and I was thrilled! “The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women” by Amy Licence is a real gem.

License takes the reader on a 100 year journey, focusing on the lives of individual women from the years 1500 through 1600. The entire time that I was reading this book, it felt like I was watching a BBC series special hosted by Lucy Worsley—no kidding! Licence is an engaging writer, so much so that I felt like I was reading a well-written novel. So when I discovered that License, in addition to being an historian, is also a novelist, I wasn’t surprised.

Instead of arranging each biography in chapters, the author included the name of each woman and a date, with dates being sequential (e.g., 1510, 1511, 1512, etc.). The descriptions the author provided were almost Foucaultian, reminiscent of “The Order of Things.” Not all subjects are named. In a few cases, some women just sat for portraits and their names are lost to history; others, like the painting of Medusa, are fictional. However, the author included valuable insight as to why she chose them. What I really appreciate is that instead of each biography being completely separate from the others, the author referenced previously covered subjects.

One of the most interesting stories that I read was about Elena/Eleno de Céspedes who may, or may not, have been non-binary. Céspedes, an intersex Afro-Spanish, was married to both a male and a female, gave birth, worked as a self-taught surgeon, and wore men’s clothes during a time when it was actually illegal to dress in men’s clothing. Prior to reading about them, I’d never even heard their name before. This is just one example of the fabulous list of individuals that the author has compiled.

Although a heavy portion of the book was dedicated to British women, Licence’s subjects were from countries around the world: Eastern and Western Europe, Turkey, Nigeria, Morocco, Mexico, Japan, Chile, Burma, and India. While reading, I was curious as to why the author chose the individuals that she did, and I was grateful that Licence discussed her reasons for the inclusion of the subjects at the end of the book. Given the innumerable women that existed during that time, she stated that she, “…could easily have filled five volumes…”

I have to admit it: I wish she would! This book should be on every high school history teacher’s desk to read to students as supplementary material for the woeful lack of women’s history in modern-day textbooks.

The history of the world from 1500 through 1600 was written by men of that era. Even today, with the exception of women of high status, women of that era are almost universally overlooked because their lives weren’t recorded for posterity. With this book, Licence offers readers an, “…alternative narrative of the sixteenth century…” where people can learn not just about women and their lives during this era, but will also rediscover how women were viewed and subjugated because the author pieced their lives together.

This book, incorporating 35 photographs, notes, and a bibliography, is a definite must-read for everyone. My only regret is that I wish that the author had written several more sister volumes to accompany it.

Casual readers of history and historical figures might only know the names of a few sixteenth century women. Most people have heard of Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, and Catherine of Aragon, but what about the many others throughout this period?

Amy Licence presents a thoughtful, brief account of 100 women for readers to learn details about their lives. Some of these women are less famous (or infamous)/well-known or documented than others, but are all interesting to read about.

Loved learning about these 100 women. Especially in a time when most of history was focused on men and written by men.

I really enjoyed getting to know these 100 women in the 16th century. I enjoyed that it included women that I already knew and had new stories from women I hadn't heard of. It was written really well and I enjoyed the way Amy Licence wrote this.

100 hundred women, some at the pinnacle of power, some ordinary women. Some you’ll remember and know their stories, others will be brand-new.