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Description of  Women Warlords: An Illustrated Military History of Female Warriors

Newark describes women of early Europe, Africa, and South America who led troops or fought on the battlefield. He begins by presenting both the legend and what has been authenticated about the female warriors, the Amazons, and the truth of the female force of the Dahomey tribe of West Africa. He then goes on to discuss female leaders up to the Hundred Years War. For these, Newark gives some biographical information, focusing on what led the women to become warriors and descriptions of their battles. Less scholarly and more straightforward in tone than Antonia Fraser's Warrior Queens (Knopf, 1989), the book does cover some of the same women. A readable text is presented in fairly small print, relieved by photos of artifacts and ancient drawings. Useful for young adults browsing as well as research, this is a lively and interesting addition to the area of women's history.