Crown of Venus: A Guide to Royal Women Around the World

They are the women who have shaped or been shaped by war and peace, glory and exile, fame and obscurity. In a world rapidly discarding the system of monarchy as obsolete and wasteful, these twenty one queens, empresses, and princesses must scale challenges from both the outside and the inside. Representing ten different monarchies from around the world, some as different from each other as night and day, the ranks of these royal women include such famed figures as Princess Diana and Queen Sofia, but also their obscure counterparts like Princess Fawzia of Egypt. This informal guide explores the background and history of these womens monarchies, as well as their own personal lives and legacies.