During her three-term tenure as Britain's first (and only) female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher whipped a "strike-infested" Britain into stronger economic shape and pushed the nation's political center of gravity dramatically to the right. And the tough-as-nails leader was known for battling her own party — which would eventually kick her out of power — just as much as her opposition. This no-nonsense approach to governing earned Thatcher, who died Monday morning at age 87, more than her fair share of less-than-flattering nicknames, including "Her Magggiesty," "Attila the Hen," and, of course, the "Iron Lady, which was given to her by a Soviet Army newspaper after she criticized Moscow for being bent on world domination.
But beneath Thatcher's steely and polarizing public persona was a grocer's daughter with a high voice and a sharp tongue, a woman who held onto a childhood love of poetry and science throughout her life. Here, a collection of images that capture this surprisingly playful "Maggie."
**
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
-
Homo Floresiensis: Earth’s real life ‘hobbits’Under the Radar New research suggests that ‘early human pioneers’ in Australia interbred with archaic species of hobbits at least 60,000 years ago
-
Homes by renowned architectsFeature Featuring a Leonard Willeke Tudor Revival in Detroit and modern John Storyk design in Woodstock
-
Looming drone ban has farmers and farm-state Republicans anxiousIN THE SPOTLIGHT As congressional China-hawks work to limit commercial drone sales from Beijing, a growing number of conservative lawmakers are sounding an agricultural alarm
