"Few could believe that within twenty years of the war to end all wars being won the world was once again at war. Veterans of the Great War feared going through the same thing again and, even worse, many knew that this time their children would also be involved in the fighting. What had all the sacrifice been about? Derbyshire, its towns and village, were badly hit by the Great War with many lives lost, families ripped apart and a way of life that had changed forever. Building and economic recovery had been hindered by the Great Depression. The county was not ready to face another war nor for the problems of warfare from the air and some resulting plane crashes on its hillsides. Yet somehow the county and its people, found the strength to unite against the enemy once more and ensure that Germany would never win the war. The book chronicles life on the Home Front during the Second World, which itself reached into every home and affected every citizen, changing the life and the face of the county. It is also a timely reminder of the difficulties, hardships, restrictions and morale faced by Derbyshire as the war dragged on, and how the local community overcame the odds that were stacked against them." "The world is full of women we don’t know whose stories have been overlooked or airbrushed from history. Often faced with limited life choices, this book proudly showcases those women who took matters into their own hands and became forces to be reckoned with. These are women you SHOULD know about. Love them or loathe them, they made their mark. From cross dressing soldiers to scheming mistresses and courtesans, Warriors and Wenches offers up an indulgent romp through centuries of history, from widows turned tank drivers bent on bloody vengeance and fierce martial arts fighters, to women who magnificently and outrageously turned their social lot in life to their advantage: the mistresses, courtesans and uniquely French maitresse-en-titres who wielded incredible power and influence in the sumptuous courts of Europe. Warriors and Wenches doesn’t seek to decide whether these women were ‘good’ or ‘bad;’ we’ll leave it up to you to make up your own minds. But these are just some of the women who, through military skill, incredible courage and loyalty, scandal, poison plots and sexual debauchery, have crossed over into the realm of legend and myth and become powerful symbols of feminist power. “When the destiny of a nation is in a woman’s bedroom, the best place for the historian is in the antechamber.” ~Charles-Augustin Sainte-Reuve"
About the Author: Michelle Rosenberg is a writer and passionate women’s historian with a great fondness for her two daughters, bawdy humor and inappropriate language (in that order). She is on the Advisory Board of the East End Women’s Museum.
Description:
"Few could believe that within twenty years of the war to end all wars being won the world was once again at war. Veterans of the Great War feared going through the same thing again and, even worse, many knew that this time their children would also be involved in the fighting. What had all the sacrifice been about? Derbyshire, its towns and village, were badly hit by the Great War with many lives lost, families ripped apart and a way of life that had changed forever. Building and economic recovery had been hindered by the Great Depression. The county was not ready to face another war nor for the problems of warfare from the air and some resulting plane crashes on its hillsides. Yet somehow the county and its people, found the strength to unite against the enemy once more and ensure that Germany would never win the war. The book chronicles life on the Home Front during the Second World, which itself reached into every home and affected every citizen, changing the life and the face of the county. It is also a timely reminder of the difficulties, hardships, restrictions and morale faced by Derbyshire as the war dragged on, and how the local community overcame the odds that were stacked against them." "The world is full of women we don’t know whose stories have been overlooked or airbrushed from history. Often faced with limited life choices, this book proudly showcases those women who took matters into their own hands and became forces to be reckoned with. These are women you SHOULD know about. Love them or loathe them, they made their mark. From cross dressing soldiers to scheming mistresses and courtesans, Warriors and Wenches offers up an indulgent romp through centuries of history, from widows turned tank drivers bent on bloody vengeance and fierce martial arts fighters, to women who magnificently and outrageously turned their social lot in life to their advantage: the mistresses, courtesans and uniquely French maitresse-en-titres who wielded incredible power and influence in the sumptuous courts of Europe. Warriors and Wenches doesn’t seek to decide whether these women were ‘good’ or ‘bad;’ we’ll leave it up to you to make up your own minds. But these are just some of the women who, through military skill, incredible courage and loyalty, scandal, poison plots and sexual debauchery, have crossed over into the realm of legend and myth and become powerful symbols of feminist power. “When the destiny of a nation is in a woman’s bedroom, the best place for the historian is in the antechamber.” ~Charles-Augustin Sainte-Reuve" About the Author: Michelle Rosenberg is a writer and passionate women’s historian with a great fondness for her two daughters, bawdy humor and inappropriate language (in that order). She is on the Advisory Board of the East End Women’s Museum.