Reviews for Damn Rebel Bitches

The average rating for Damn Rebel Bitches based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-12-23 00:00:00 Brittany Brinkman At first I had some doubts about whether to give Damn' Rebel Bitches three or four stars: this book about the 1745-1746 Jacobite uprising could do with some more structure, and somewhat clearer, central messages. Instead of a handful of overarching chapters and strong concluding paragraphs, it offers dozens of shorter sections and semi-conclusions. But perhaps that is not so much the author's fault, as it is the problem of women in the past and their subsequent histories. Unlike men's, their roles were often not clear-cut and laid out before them as they went through life. Especially histories of war too often offer only a limited mold for male characters. However, Craig's book colourfully shows the many awkward, dangerous and tragic positions women found themselves in during this proto-nationalist and dynastic war. Women within the Jacobite movement (supporters of the dethroned Stuart dynasty) acted as moral supporters for their men; served in intelligence and communication roles; built support for the movement; sheltered Jacobite fugitives; and had their image torn apart by the enemy press in their attempt to discredit the Jacobite cause. Jenny Cameron, for example, became widely known more for her being depicted as an 'unwomanly' person, than for who she really was. Therefore, in all, Craig's book offers refreshing insights - not only for '45 enthousiasts. It paved the way for a more holistic understanding of war.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-09-17 00:00:00 Carl Stewart 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.