Damn Rebel Bitches Book

This was a fascinating perspective on a historical event that has considerably dark repercussions. Despite the grim position that hindsight offers us towards such historical events, Craig was able to successfully harness the use of humour and sarcasm in her work, combining it with stories of amusing close-shaves (the one where Lady Strange's future husband hides literally under her skirts from English officers comes to mind) to create that offered up refreshing breaks from accounts of the ghastly aftermath of Culloden.

Craig does not just explore the actions of the women belonging to a higher social class or those whom the rebellion made famous, but she also examines the stories of the every day women who are often silent or go unheard. Some of the stories she sheds light on are about women whose names are unknown and lost to history, but nevertheless they are just as fascinating - if not more - than some of the noble or more well-known women. The bravery and courage that they showed is truly tremendous, and their contributions to the Stuart Rising were often just as important or crucial as those of their masculine counterparts.

My only complaint is that perhaps for a bit more clarity Craig could have presented her chapters in a way that dealt with the rebellion in a more linear fashion. Nonetheless, it is a small complaint about a highly readable and engaging book. We need more history books like this.