tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660357194650222850.post3148572893260523808..comments2012-01-03T17:41:59.346-07:00History and Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14928081276314403541noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660357194650222850.post-51840103064576024722011-12-30T22:15:46.135-07:002011-12-30T22:15:46.135-07:00These books are now on my to read list. I never heard of her but it sounds like a excellent story to read.K4R1N4http://www.blogger.com/profile/09788900253445075116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660357194650222850.post-89193216834653510082011-12-20T09:49:27.665-07:002011-12-20T09:49:27.665-07:00These books look really good! They&#39;re now on my wishlist- thanks for writing the review :)<br /><br />I must disagree, however, with your (and the author&#39;s, it seems) interpretation of Roxelana as a &quot;villainess&quot;. To be honest, I hadn&#39;t heard of her before reading your blog post, but I looked her up on Wikipedia and noticed the section &quot;Charities&quot; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxelana#Charities which mentions, among other things, her founding of a women&#39;s hospital in Constantinople and a public soup kitchen to feed the poor and the needy in Jerusalem.<br /><br />In the past (and still in many cases today), many times the only way for a woman to come to a position of power was to be absolutely ruthless, stepping on toes and clawing her way to the top. The same traits described as villainy and ruthlessness in women were/are praised in men as courage, virility, etc.<br /><br />At the same time, we don&#39;t actually know that Roxelana was behind all the events which conspired to bring her to a position of power. Is it so hard to believe the Sultan could so fervently love such a strong woman?<br /><br />In any case, I really enjoyed your blog post &amp; have subscribed :) Thanks for writing!KeriLynn Engelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16747325969383583252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660357194650222850.post-43155898691143923072011-12-20T09:47:56.389-07:002011-12-20T09:47:56.389-07:00These books look really good! They&#39;re now on my wishlist- thanks for writing the review :)<br /><br />I must disagree, however, with your (and the author&#39;s, it seems) interpretation of Roxelana as a &quot;villainess&quot;. To be honest, I hadn&#39;t heard of her before reading your blog post, but I looked her up on Wikipedia and noticed the section &quot;Charities&quot; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxelana#Charities which mentions, among other things, her founding of a women&#39;s hospital in Constantinople and a public soup kitchen to feed the poor and the needy in Jerusalem.<br /><br />In the past (and still in many cases today), many times the only way for a woman to come to a position of power was to be absolutely ruthless, stepping on toes and clawing her way to the top. The same traits described as villainy and ruthlessness in women were/are praised in men as courage, virility, etc.<br /><br />At the same time, we don&#39;t actually know that Roxelana was behind all the events which conspired to bring her to a position of power. Is it so hard to believe the Sultan could so fervently love such a strong woman?<br /><br />In any case, I really enjoyed your blog post &amp; have subscribed :) Thanks for writing!Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16747325969383583252noreply@blogger.com