This book discusses women who have led nations in politics and warfare. It features several notable women in history, including Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth I, and Isabella of Spain. I did not, however, expect Margaret Thatcher to be among those included in this book. Each of the women were discussed an appropriate amount of time for the length of the book, though I did see another review that said Boadicea was discussed too much...and I do not disagree with that assessment.

I have always enjoyed Antonia Fraser's work, and I am a bit sad to be almost to the end of the unread books of hers that I have. She is a wonderful writer, and I appreciate her contributions to the historical narrative. This book is not written in the vein of Princesses Behaving Badly or some other such book with short stories for people with a passing interest in history. It is written in a heavier historical style, typical of this author. I also liked that this book had some humorous moments included in it, and gave a side of some of these women's personalities that I hadn't yet been exposed to. It's nice to have a bit of humor mixed in sometimes.