The Renegade Queen (Rebellious Times)

This novel is required reading for anyone interested in a more accurate understanding of the history of women’s right to vote, especially as it relates to the timeline of African American voting rights. Despite the book being fiction, it connects the political dots for me in a way that memorizing historical dates and facts out of textbooks never could. Before reading The Renegade Queen, I had no idea a woman other than Hillary Clinton had ever run for president. It seems an egregious act of erasure that I just now learned of this—one that Eva Flynn addresses and explains in the author’s note at the end of the book. Flynn exquisitely renders the life and times of Victoria Woodhull and her contemporaries. She doesn’t shy away from difficult scenes, controversial topics, or potentially unpopular truths about historical figures. What I love most about this book is its bravery, its honesty, and its obvious dedication to undoing the erasure of female voices and their impact on history as we know it. Ironically, women seem to have had a hand in this erasure themselves. We can all learn something from this. But the book isn’t all history—its plot is very engaging and its characters are compelling and complex.

Victoria Woodhull and her partner James Blood were controversial figures of their time. So controversial, that they have been all but erased from history. Victoria’s life was controversial from her conception; however she always knew that she was destined for greatness. Victoria and her sister, Tennessee are used and abused by their parents. Tennessee is set up as a healer and Victoria is proffered as a medium to speak to the dead. At a young age, Victoria is whisked away and married to a much older Dr. Canning Woodhull, while her life is better than with her parents, Victoria is still subjected to Canning's drunkenness and whoring. Also, Canning wasn't expecting such an intelligent, willful and strong girl as his wife. As Victoria grows, her mind evolves as well. She has strong opinions on slavery and women's rights. Victoria meets Susan B. Anthony and her fervor grows, when Victoria meets and falls in love with Civil War hero, James Blood, she is given the opportunity to act on her dreams of women's rights. With James' encouragement Victoria is able to open a financial institution, start a newspaper and even run for president.

I was captivated by Victoria's life from the point of her describing her conception in a whore's tent at a Methodist revival. From then, it seems like she hit the ground running and there was not one dull moment in her fascinating life. While Victoria's life was difficult, she persevered through her strong will, determination and ever increasing gains in knowledge and insight. Victoria's progressive thinking and ideas to further herself continually impressed me. I also loved seeing other historical figures through her eyes, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Commodore Vanderbilt were shown in a different light. Victoria's sister, Tennessee is also an enthralling character, the polar opposite of Victoria, but her best friend and companion for the campaign. I feel like I could go on and on about Victoria's contributions to women's rights and her amazing life. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to learn about Victoria as an important historical figure. I wish she would have appeared in my history textbooks as well, but she has fallen to the wayside as a victim of censorship and impropriety, which is exactly what she fought so hard against.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

I recently read a book I much anticipated, The Renegade Queen by Eva Flynn, which was about the life of the forgotten American feminist Victoria Woodhull. Even though her voice was strong it has been quieted to the nation, even in history books. It was a little surprising that Woodhull was born in Licking County, Ohio, which is the state in which I reside. I've read so much about famous people from Ohio in the 1800s lately, it was interesting to add her to the list.

I vaguely remember hearing of Victoria Woodhull in my university history degree pursuits, yet then again in my research when I was looking into a project on the women's suffrage movement. However, to most people, the author of the book is correct, she's been highly swept under the rug for the legendary Susan B. Anthony and group to take the limelight as the suffragettes of history. You'll find out why within the pages of the book.

As this novel represents, Woodhull did quite a bit of TRUE campaigning for women's rights without a care for social etiquette, and not only the right to vote, but the right to marry, divorce, and have children without government interference. Even Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton did not publicly stand for these rights for fear of being chastised. She became a leader for the women's suffrage movement and took on anyone and anything that stood in her way.

First of all, I want to state that this book gave huge insight into Woodhull's beliefs, motivations, and her determined ways to make women equal in all regards. Flynn showcased how her views and pursuits were similar to the movement, but yet, also how they differed and the way she believed they needed to go about getting the progress they needed. Secondly, Flynn made Woodhull endearing in an empowering way, truly allowing her to shine and progress in our vision.

Not only in this matter, but in all things, Flynn did a tremendous amount of research and it carries though the book within her representation of Woodhull. What I didn't know, or remember, is that Woodhull was the first woman to run for President of the United States in 1872, with Frederick Douglass as her running mate. However, Flynn doesn't just focus on that part of her life. She takes readers to the very beginning of Woodhull's life, as a girl, showing us her trauma of a childhood of abuse and neglect, her father using her clairvoyant talents to fool people out of money, and not even allowing them to wear shoes. When her first husband came to take her away after seeing her abuse, he has to buy her from her father, which left a lasting impression on Woodhull especially when that husband turned out to be an alcoholic, a womanizer, and also abusive. It's important for readers to be drawn into her story, to see where she came from, so that we can better understand her beliefs and what drove her to fight with such an extreme fervor. She was proven to be a woman of survival in this novel, and in that right, Flynn does her a great justice in history.

This isn't only a women's rights book though, or a story of the first woman to run for President, it is the story of how Woodhull fought for social norms such as the capitalist elite and in favor of the working class. I believe her motivations to point out that an all male political system made up of those with money was corrupt is a point that we are still espousing on to this day. Her voice caused stirs, as anything worth doing should, and many of her methods and suggestions for reform have been implemented. Her drive to care not only for women, but for the poor and the working class, has left a lasting legacy even if most people don't realize her efforts.

As a business woman she and her sister became the first female stockbrokers on Wall Street in 1870 and dubbed "queens of finance." With their money made, they were some of the first women to found a newspaper as well (now that's cool too for me, because as a journalist, I've been apt to study anything about the history of journalism-I was so intrigued by this) in order to support her candidacy, but it ended up being a place for them to showcase their opinions and alternate views, as well as ideals for labor reform.

I could go on repetitively about Woodhull and not even touch the amount of learning that is encased inside Flynn's book. In fact, a good portion of it pertains to her second husband and their work together, and how their voices put them and their love in harms way. The ending of their story and this book is a bit heart wrenching, however, I don't feel it would be a spoiler to say that Woodhull is off to England at the end and that I'm much looking forward to Flynn's second book where she'll write about this next part of Woodhull's life.

Eloquently written with depth of character, intrigue, and emotion, The Renegade Queen is a book that will entrance you into knowing the woman called Victoria Woodhull. Eva Flynn has done extreme justice for this extraordinary woman in history and will inspire a new nation of women when they read it. Highly recommended for readers and to stock library and school shelves everywhere.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Did not like it. Read only about half and that was enough.

This is my first book on American history. The story is about Mrs.Victoria Woodhull who is raised in a poor family as 6th child and had an abusive childhood. She has a gift of being able to talk to spirits which her father uses to his advantage to earn money. She is tortured and kept in delirium with opium to earn money as per her father's wish.

Surprisingly, Victoria has optimism and ambition in her life to fight for women equality and right to vote even though she herself is chained. She is a strongly opinionated individual and a rebel. She is kind of a woman who can go to any extremes and bear pain to fight for the rights of women. Those were the days when women were treated as slaves, and woman's only objective of life supposed to be to please her man and take care of home.

The story, the narration and characters inspired me throughout the novel and it is interesting to know about women in 80's in USA. Victoria's positive spirit, boldness and her stubborn nature to do some good for future generations of women is exemplary. I couldn't accept the climax though. Since it is based on real incidents, I cannot complain about that. I appreciate the author for her research work and wish her the best for next part of the series. I am looking forward to read the next part actually.

I would recommend this to history and politics lovers.
My Rating:
4/5

Some lines that I loved from the book:

If my unborn is a girl, I will teach her to be strong, I will ensure she marries the right man, and I will see to it that she can work in any position she desires. If my unborn is a boy, I will teach him how to be a kind man, a compassionate man, and to see women as equal, worthy, creations of God

Do you know what Chicago means?” Canning asks. I shake my head. “It’s an old Indian word for foul smell"

I plead for the intellectual emancipation and the redemption of womanhood from sexual slavery—social evils can only be eliminated by making your daughters the peers of your sons advocating “radical” positions including liberal divorce laws, the criminalization of marital rape, woman’s political and economic equality, and the eight-hour workday
Ps: Received the book from the author in exchange of an honest review.

Victoria Woodhull was one of the early advocates for women’s rights, including the right to vote, manage her own finances, and seek a divorce in the case of abusive relationships. She also was a proponent of free love, and a fierce rival of Susan B. Anthony. The novel, The Renegade Queen, is an account of Victoria Woodhull’s life, trials, and tribulations in her “own” words.

Like many others, I knew very little about Victoria Woodhull, having been taught in school about the more famous women’s rights advocates, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Woodhull was definitely far ahead of her time, and as such, faced suspicion and scorn at every turn. Many of these opinions were largely pushed by the newspapers and other media outlets, such as public speaking engagements.

I found the novel itself to be interesting, although some parts did seem to draw out particular points. As a personal preference, I did not like that the story was written in first person, present tense because I feel historical fiction needs to be written in past tense. Again though, that is a personal preference. Aside from this, I believe readers, women in particular, will find Victoria Woodhull a fascinating historical figure, and they will be prompted (as I was) to do their own research on this vivacious, and often forgotten, women’s rights advocate.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

It is amazing to me what and WHO historians decide are noteworthy enough for 'the books'. I realize that Renegade Queen is historical fiction but Victoria Woodhull DID exist and DID fight for female equality. Maybe it was because "Mrs. Satan" wanted equality in all aspects of life...not simply the right to vote.

This was one of those books that you enjoy reading - a woman overcoming and casting off her background to not only uplift herself but others too.
Thank you to the author for giving her a voice!!

I cannot remember if this book had violence or sex - I do not believe it did.......and if so, not a lot or explicit or I think I would remember. However, I loved the content and received a few surprises along the way!! What better read can there be.

I loved this novel about Victoria Woodhull, brought to life vividly by Eva Flynn. Fast moving and rich with detail, I was astounded that this was a real historical figure -- how had I never heard of her? Flynn evokes Woodhull's life without the dreaded "infodump" and yet, I learned so much through the story. Looking forward to the next book.

Fascinating read about the struggle for woman's rights. The climate then not so different in some ways today on other social issues. I enjoyed every page.