Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings

(Paperback)

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This new paperback edition offers true tales of these take-charge princesses plus dozens more in a fascinating read that's perfect for history buffs, feminists, and anyone seeking a different kind of bedtime story. These 30 true stories of take-charge princesses from around the world and throughout history offer a different kind of bedtime story . . . Pop history meets a funny, feminist point-of-view in these illustrated tales of "royal terrors who make modern gossip queens seem as demure as Snow White" (New York Post). You think you know her story. You've read the Brothers Grimm, you've watched the Disney cartoons, and you cheered as these virtuous women lived happily ever after. But real princesses didn't always get happy endings-and had very little in common with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, or Ariel. Featuring illustrations by Wicked cover artist, Douglas Smith, Princesses Behaving Badly tells the true stories of famous (Marie Antoinette; LucreziaBorgia)-and some not-so-famous-princesses throughout history and around the world, including- . Princess Stephanie von Hohenlohe, a Nazi spy. . Empress Elisabeth of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who slept wearing a mask of raw veal. . Princess Olga of Kiev, who slaughtered her way to sainthood. . Princess Lakshmibai, who waged war on the battlefield with her toddler strapped to her back. Some were villains, some were heroes, some were just plain crazy. But none of these princesses felt constrained to our notions of "lady-like" behavior.

Reviews

Forget conventional fairy-tale endingsFrom pirate princesses to princesses with bizarre beauty routines to warrior royalty, this book shows there's a lot more to life than a cookie-cutter story.Bustle

An important and impressive contribution to the feminist narrative.Bustmagazine

Princess, diva, pain in the ass all terms that resonate throughoutPrincesses Behaving Badly, which tells of royal terrors who make modern gossip queens seem as demure as Snow White.New York Post

History has produced some very real, very dangerous ladies who make their movie and book counterparts seem lame by comparison. From Nazi spy to bloodthirsty killer, these women were not meek in any way. Heck, one of them even wore a mask of raw veal! Youll find out all this and more in this little book of miniature biographies.Geeks of Doom

McRobbie includes a good mix that will satisfy anyone who loves tales of history and audacity.Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez

McRobbie gives many of these princesses exactly what their stories require: a narrative that tells their stories in broad strokes, without omitting any of the juicy details. ForeWord Reviews

Irreverent, informative, and entertaining,Princesses Behaving Badlyis the perfect companion to royal novels. Jennifer Conner,Literate Housewife

[Princesses Behaving Badly] isa major addition to feminist libraries, and more importantly, its lots of fun!Anna Jedrziewski, Retailing Insight

Author Bio

Linda Rodriguez McRobbie has written for Smithsonian Magazine, The Guardian, Atlas Obscura, Christian Science Monitor, WallStreetJournal.com, and other national publications. Find her online at lindarodriguezmcrobbie.com.