In the Times: The 20 most controversial women in history.
Three françaises feature in the list of “top women leaders with reputations for raising hackles”:
3. Joan of Arc (c1412-1431)
Obviously a fruitcake, like any number of religious martyrs, Joan was burned by the English, then burned some more and then thrown into the Seine just so no-one could grab any relics. She still ended up a saint though, so that was a waste of an afternoon. (Picture: Jeanne d’Arc and the archangel Michael, Eugene Thirion)
7. Marie Antoinette (1755-1793)
France’s famously frivolous queen has been undergoing a reputation renovation of late. [..] In truth, the queen gambled, she shopped, she rode horses and was only occasionally tempted to meddle in the politics of her era. Perhaps a little like some members of our own dearly beloved royal family today?
18. Carla Bruni (1967- )
Can you imagine, as Cherie Blair strolled into the White House, President Bush declaring: “Yo Blair, good choice!”? It seems just that happened when French president Nicolas Sarkozy introduced the US President to his wife Carla Bruni. [...] Then there was the small matter of the relationship with the philosopher, and then the child with his son, all her other conquests, the ho-hum attitude toward monogamy and the suspiciously well-timed release of her latest music CD. And who says she lowers the tone of the French presidency?
