Women Warriors: A History (The Warriors)

Never mind the accomplishments of American women in the Gulf War, of Nicaraguan women in the Sandinista revolt, of Vietnamese women in countless wars: fighting, many continue to believe, is the province of men. Setting aside the question of whether war is desirable no matter who fights it, anthropologist David Jones takes a look at women warriors throughout world history. He turns up well-known examples like Joan of Arc and Molly Pitcher; better, he looks at the contributions of lesser- known fighters from ancient Scandinavia and Africa on down to the present. Throughout Jones has a keen eye for (sometimes gruesome) detail, and he leaves you feeling glad you don't have to scrap with any of his many fearsome heroines.