Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories From History Without The Fairy-Tale Endings (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
2.5 stars. I love books that are surveys of history in some fashion or another, so this one seemed right up my alley. But it isn't a great example of the genre. The author did find some interesting stories from around the world and many cultures are represented, which is refreshing. There are lots of stories in here that I hadn't heard before. But the author also seems to delight in the misery of these women (just about all the stories have unfortunate endings--see the title). The style of the book is too casual, too gossipy. Ultimately, the sad stories told in the gossipy style just became distasteful by the end of the book. I really do love the idea behind this book: princesses, legitimate or not, with colorful personalities and lives. However, I was hoping for a bit more fact than this book presents. The author has a habit of telling a story and then following up with an addendum about how it might not even be true. Too much of the book is just speculation and presented as such in a disappointing way. Still, this is a great read if you at least want to become familiar with the large variety of names listed in the book (and maybe do your own research).
What do You think about Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories From History Without The Fairy-Tale Endings (2013)?
It's not what I expected. But it's useful information if you write diploma or smth like that.
—sameen
an amusing book. Good to dip into. I didn't learn much, but was entertained.
—lena1977
