March Books of the Month: The Thinking Girl's Treasury of Dastardly Dames plus a Special Giveaway


Happy March everyone and do I have a treat for you! March's Books of the Month are from Goosebottom Books’ second series, The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Dastardly Dames, which explores the lives of some of the most fascinating women in history, each of whom got labeled with a terrible nickname. While satisfying tweens' tastes for something a little darker, the series also appeals to its readers’ powers of analysis and sense of fairness—asking if these women’s nicknames were just. Each woman’s story is presented in rich historical and cultural context, with gorgeous original gouache paintings by Peter Malone, as well as photographs of artifacts, reproductions of archival paintings, maps, and timelines.


Just have a gander at page from Marie Antoinette:  'Madame Deficit.'  Isn't it gorgeous and a perfect way to introduce your pre-teen daughter (or son) to some of the world's most dastardly dames.  I'm not sure that I agree with including Marie Antoinette amongst Mary Tudor, Catherine de Medici, Cixi, Cleopatra and Agrippina.  Personally, I would have included her in Goosebottom book's other series, The Thinking Girl's Treasury of Real Princesses. Still, I had fun reading these books and reacquainting myself with some of my favorite royal women.

Goosebottom books have generously sent me a copy of three of the books in their Dastardly Dames series, Marie Antoinette, Mary Tudor and Catherine de Medici.  It seems a shame to keep them all to myself.  Since March is Women's History Month and since Scandalous Women is about to celebrate 1,000,000 page views, I thought it only fitting that we have a little giveaway here on the blog. I can't believe I haven't given anything away since November!




One lucky winner will receive all three books, Catherine De Medici, Mary Tudor & Marie Antoinette from The Dastardly Dames series. Here are the rules for the giveaway. This giveaway is open solely to my American readers! The contest runs from today through Friday, March 23rd.



1. Leave your name and email in the comments. Email is very important so that I can contact you for your address.
2. If you are not a follower and become one, you get an extra entry
3. If you tweet about the giveaway, you get an extra entry.

Good luck!

Comments

Rach said…
Yay Women's History Month! I would be delirious with joy if I were to win these books. Here is my email: rachael.haas@gmail.com. I am crossing my fingers.
March 1, 2012 at 2:28 PM
Jane said…
These look like very interesting books. I'd love to have the chance to read them! My e-mail address is: jane.irish.nelson@gmail.com
Wish me luck!
March 1, 2012 at 2:57 PM
Rachel said…
These look fantastic- thanks for the giveaway!

Rachelhwallen@gmail.com
(I'm a follower)
March 1, 2012 at 3:38 PM
Unknown said…
Donna
DoriesinTN@comcast.net
March 1, 2012 at 4:08 PM
Linda said…
What a lovely giveaway. Before I reached the end of the post I was trying to decide which one I wanted the most. Thanks for including all three!
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

longtime Google follower
March 1, 2012 at 4:17 PM
satorotas said…
What a SCANDAL!!!
I love it!!!!
Antonia
satorotas(at)earthlink(dot)net
March 2, 2012 at 1:32 AM
Wendy said…
My daughter and I would love to read these!!

Happy to have found your blog!

New follower!

Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/FctionAddiction/status/175599944487546880

Thank you for the entry!

Wendy
wendysfictionaddiction(at)gmail(dot)com
March 2, 2012 at 10:16 AM
rjh121 said…
These books look like so much fun! What a terrific give a way! With thanks and gratitude, Rebecca
rjhaigh@yahoo.com
March 4, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
March 4, 2012 at 1:20 PM
Dionne said…
Excited for a chance to win these books. I love your blog! my email is mrboosmom@hotmail.com, Dionne
March 11, 2012 at 8:44 PM
Theo said…
I just found your blog because of the interview you did with npr. It's great! The giveaway is just icing on the cake. Thanks!

uno_mas33 at yahoo
March 15, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Unknown said…
These would be PERFECT for my nieces-- I loved your interview on NPR, thanks for sharing.
Anne
anneagain4(at)gmail.com
March 21, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Many Lives of Beryl Markham

Image
“A life has to move or it stagnates. Even this life, I think. Every tomorrow ought not to resemble every yesterday.” – Beryl Markham   Two of my favorite writers, Lauren Willig and Deanna Raybourn , have writers have novels set in Kenya during the 1920’s. I have previously written about some of the denizens of the Happy Valley Set (Alice de Janze, Idina Sackville) before but I was all of a sudden inspired to read more about Beryl Markham. Way back in the 1980’s, after OUT OF AFRICA was released, there was a miniseries on CBS called SHADOW ON THE SUN starring Stephanie Powers as Markham. I vaguely remember a scene were Powers as Markham says “I’ve flown the Atlantic” in a really terrible English accent. Born in England but raised in Kenya, Beryl Markham was a notorious beauty. She trained race horses and had scandalous affairs, but she is most remembered for being a pioneering aviatrix. She became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean and the first person to make it
Read more

Scandalous Women in Fiction: Irene Forsyte

Image
I recently watched 2002 Granada Television production of John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga again to immerse myself in the world of the Victorians. I was struck again by the character of Irene Heron Forsyte, the mysterious, and aloof beauty that is at the heart of the first series. During the course of the first six episodes she manages to enchant not one but three of the Forsyte men as well as stealing the heart of Philip Bosinney, the fiance of her good friend June Forsyte. She leaves her husband Soames, which causes a scandal, that reverberates throughout the second series. Soames is never really able to get over losing Irene. Irene is certainly a Scandalous Woman but it is less about what she does than how the men in her life perceive her that makes her so Scandalous. When we first meet Irene in both the television series she is living in Bournemouth with her stepmother. Her father who was a Professor (we are not told of what) has died, leaving Irene with only 50 pounds a year
Read more

Royal Princess, Royal Scandal - the sad life of Princess Margaret

Image
It'll be six years next month that HRH Princess Margaret passed away at the age of 71. Apparently her ex-husband, Lord Snowdon has decided to share intimate details of his marriage to the late Princess in a new biography. According to Hello Magazine: "News of the book, which is set to hit UK stores in the summer, may come as a surprise to many royal watchers. "There has always been an understanding that no biography would be published during his lifetime," says royal author Tim Heald - who wrote a biography of the Queen's late sister. "He has never spoken a word in public about Margaret," he continues, "He has remained very loyal to her and to her memory." "However, the royal snapper, who married the beautiful, blue-eyed royal at Westminster Abbey in 1960, has given his "full agreement" to the new biography by well-known journalist Anne de Courcy. "I am now happy for people to know about my life and I want to put the record
Read more