Intrepid Women

<p>Cantinières and vivandières were women who served as official uniformed combat auxiliaries of French army units from 1793 to the eve of World War I. Technically non-combatant spouses of active-duty soldiers they fought and died in every conflict from the wars of the Revolution through colonial campaigns in Algeria Mexico West Africa and Indochina. At a time when women were strictly controlled by the Napoleonic Code cantinières owned property traveled widely and exercised a fierce independence from their husbands. However despite their actions they passed largely under the radar of the growing feminist and anti-feminist movements that flourished in France from 1792 onward. Based on extensive archival research as well as published sources <i>Intrepid Women</i> is the first serious book-length study of a previously ignored aspect of women's and military history.</p>