A Tyranny of Petticoats

Contributed by Eli, gr. 12, June 2019

I did not have the same level of engagement while reading every story in this collection, but they all made me more curious about specific historical events. Each one is set during a different time period somewhere in the United States, and follows a different female protagonist navigating the challenges of her era, her hometown, and her position in society. The anthology features several real figures - such as Bonnie Parker, of Bonnie and Clyde - who influence the lives of the fictitious narrators, and it takes readers from the early 1700s to the 1960s. The majority of the stories are purely historical (although some creative liberties may have been taken), but a few of them include supernatural elements.

Since these tales vary widely in their location and subject matter, I appreciated that the main characters are diverse as well. Despite facing similar difficulties like strict gender roles or social upheaval, they have unique backgrounds, personalities, and motivations that influence the decisions they make. There is one common theme I found overused and felt was unnecessary, which is that many of the characters’ mothers were dead or ended up dying over the course of their story. However, it was still refreshing to meet a series of heroines who may or may not have a romantic plotline, and who take charge of their lives either way.

I would recommend A Tyranny of Petticoats to those with an interest in history and short fiction, who do not mind simplistic writing styles and the occasional abrupt conclusion. Most of the stories mention or deal directly with violence and discrimination; a couple of the narrators even perish themselves, so readers should be prepared for heavy topics and endings that are not always optimistic.