Book excerpt: Women Leaders of Europe and the Western Hemisphere offers short biographical entries on women, both famous and obscure, holding the reins of power from ancient times up to the present day on three continents. In addition to these alphabetically and regionally arranged entries, two essays present often astonishing anecdotes concerning many of these forgotten women, bringing them to life and imbuing their stories with all the flamboyance and drama of an epic movie. Its companion book covers women leaders from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific.