This scholarly anthology in the field of women’s and gender studies looks at images of western European queens, but more often at women the authors consider to hold some equivalent position in
society. The real subject is a feminized relationship between gender and power or authority, through the medium of specially clothed female bodies. Contributors offer their ideas about Queens
Victoria of England, Lousie of Prussia, Christina Vasa of Sweden, and Marie Antoinette. More contributors are interested in figures who aren’t technically queens: wedding gowns and princess
figures, Jaquie Kennedy, diva figures, Irene Castle, the inevitable Cindy Sherman, Barbie, the television program Dynasty, and Madonna. The latter term is understood here to refer only to the
American rock star; this limit represents the book’s target readership and cultural range in relation to its subject. Annotation ©2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
