A really well researched and interested book that really makes you think about how life was for these women who found themselves in this position in Victorian England.

"To be a prostitute was a sin, but to use one was okay."

My heart is broken for these women. Well written and researched. It's gut wrenching and terribly sad.

The quotes say it best.

"A desperately poor woman on the verge of death from lack of food was held as morally superior to the woman who offered her body to pay for food to keep her children alive."

Any avid reader of women's history, particularly topics you are not taught in school, should absolutely be curious to read this book and become enlightened by it. With meticulous, organized research and writing done by Richardson, this book thoroughly explained the standards of Victorian society and how prostitution was a large hidden aspect of that society. Enjoyed this read!

Thank you Netgalley and Pen & Sword for the digital ARC!

During the Victorian Age,prostitution was a wide-scale problem in England.The very essence of it went against every moral value that was upheld during this time.Values such as chastity,prudence, and grace were dismissed and disregarded by “fallen women.”The life of the working class woman was considered a breeding ground for “fallenness.” Women were often born into disadvantageous situations to which they were forced to adapt in order to survive.In addition to this, the poor economic status of the working class family often forced women to work in unsavoury places among members of the opposite gender.As a result of such circumstances, their close associations often resulted in problems including inappropriate knowledge,exposure to elements unfit for women, and unfortunate events such as rape.The 3 most common professions that led to prostitution were factory workers, seamstresses, and servants.There was corruption and abuse, but also there was little work to go around and limited pay, so therefore,many women who were rooted in these professions used prostitution as a supplementary income.However,there were some women who entered prostitution as a choice, attracted by its comparatively lucrative remuneration for very little work and as a way to rebel against the status quo.Prostitutes were often subjected to poverty, insecurity, danger, alcoholism, disease and police harassment.Surprisingly, many prostitutes were close and formed strong ties with one another, lending a helping hand to another during times of need.Nevertheless, despite this level of camaraderie, prostitutes still fought over territories, costumes, and belongings.Fights and arguments between prostitutes were not uncommon, especially between older and younger prostitutes when the latter were considered rising competition.As a result,concerns were raised, and prostitution’s prominence led to several governmental acts,but they punished rather than helped, so they were met with reactionary reform movements.The ways to exit prostitution were marriage and cohabiting,employment,reformatories,refuges and homes,workhouse,prison and transportation,disease and death.

This book challenges the stereotypical Victorian view of prostitutes, which reduced them to victims or social evils. By delving into historical records, the author uncovers the diverse and complex lives of these women, revealing their humanity and individuality. From rural villages to bustling cities, the book sheds light on the realities of prostitution in Victorian England, exploring the factors that led women into this profession and the varied paths their lives took.

This book is emotionally challenging to read. While it reveals that these women had a certain degree of agency, they were still exploited and dehumanized while living in desperate conditions. The use of primary sources forces the reader to confront these women not as abstractions but as human individuals with names and histories. It’s an indictment of a society that offered low pay and few protections for unmarried women, while treating the men who exploited them as blameless. The book is both eye-opening and heartbreaking.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

In this fascinating insight into the lives of nineteenth century sex workers, Claire Richardson explores how and why these women ended up in this profession. A result of their social and economic circumstances, Richardson challenges the negative stereotypes and misconceptions, both contemporary and modern, of prostitution and sex work in Victorian England in this complex, detailed, and incredibly personal history book. Taking surviving records and the narratives of many different women who became prostitutes through diverse ways. Richardson’s book shows that prostitution was not inescapable, limited to London, or the societal scourge that it is so often portrayed as. Richardson’s book focuses on every element of these women’s lives before, during, and after their time as a prostitute in an attempt to understand the historical and social events responsible for their position at the bottom of Victorian society. Her prose is clear and comprehensive, and she does an excellent job of organizing the chapters of this book thematically to allow readers to gain a multifaceted knowledge of Victorian prostitution. An important addition to current scholarship on Victorian women’s history, historians both professional and amateur will enjoy the products of Richardson’s work and the importance of this research to the larger histories of Victorian England.

Factual but dry, good insight to these women's lives beyond jack the ripper. Perhaps more exciting as a musical like six!

Quite a factual but unfortunately quite a dry book. Nothing wrong but did not appeal to me.
Notwithstanding, my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

We talk about these women when we talk about the Ripper but there's more and their life was more than a name in a list of women killed.
Well researched and informative
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

To be truthful, I found this to be a dry and not appealing read. The author presents the facts and history in a non-judgmental manner, but I found it to be a difficult read. It is a good statement about society and social reform and History buffs of this era may enjoy the book, but I did not.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is not a book about sex. This is a book about poor Victorian women living on the very edge of society’.

This really surprised me, I was filled with many emotion’s while reading this, many of which were sad and angry.

How women were treated to begin with was awful, for many they had no choice but to choose this profession which then led to constant stigma.

‘Once names a prostitute, it could be very difficult for a woman to cut the label from her neck’.

A must read for history readers.

This won't be everyone's cup of tea, or should that be gin, but this is a fascinating read on both social and women's history.

A conversation mix of historic documents and case studies this book manages to give a lot of information and history without feeling overwhelmed. The about of informational Claire Richardson gives about this women and their lives really bring them into 3d and paint a vivid picture.

As I said, this subject matters may not be to everyone's taste, but I think it's a subject that should be known about. From the change of laws to the social terms still in use today. This book shows that the oldest profession has shaped society even beyond the workers years.

Grab this book for a weekend read. Or maybe read it on your commute and see how many feathers you can ruffle.

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I enjoyed this book. It's a very straightforward telling of the lives of prostitutes in the victorian era.
The information shared is done so in a factually but non judgmental way.

I'm fascinated by the lives of prostitutes throughout the ages and how different cultures viewed them differently. So I found this book had some good information about them in the victorian times. It was backed up nicely with links to source material which is always good if like me you like to dig a little deeper.

All in all a good book in my opinion

These poor ladys , most of them led such terrible lives. This was a sometimes hard to read book but at the same time engaging and well written!

This is an exceptional book. It’s one which I strongly believe should be on every school curriculum because it’s real social history, not ‘truth’ as perceived and shaped by myth and misogyny. It’s grossly unfair that everyone remembers the Ripper, either Jack or Yorkshire, but few are able to name a single victim. The unfortunate victims have largely been written out of history because they were prostitutes ( and in fact not all were involved in prostitution).

Claire Richardson has done an incredible job of giving life and substance to women whose voice would not otherwise be heard. This book is their story and it deserves to be told because it speaks volumes for the way women were (and continue to be) dismissed as irrelevant. Each of their lives had value, but because they were involved with prostitution, they were condemned to a life of distress and poverty. Few were able to change the course of their life. The research in piecing together the background to each of the ladies depicted appears to be meticulous and there’s much food for thought. Their stories are often heartbreaking and raise interesting questions about how our society is structured and make dominated. This is a powerful read, well written and of interest to anyone keen on social history.

This is a very interesting read, however I was not a huge fan of how it was written. It felt like I was reading a school assignment rather than a book and the way the information was laid out was quite chaotic and a bit jarring.

I enjoyed this book! It was a quick and informative read that appeared to be well-researched. I’m no expert in Victorian era prostitution so I can’t actually speak to the historical merits of the content and it’s portrayal, but I did come away feeling a more educated on the subject. The writing is pretty clear and easy to comprehend. I wish some unfamiliar terms were immediately defined instead of being defined after a number of uses, but otherwise I have no major gripes with the writing. I do like how the author really removed the taboo from the subject from the first page to the last. I think footnotes would be beneficial for this kind of book.

I was so excited to have my wish granted for this book. I have had an interest in Victorian England since I was six years old, and, upon adulthood, have found the history of sex workers fascinating.

So often historical works center on men. When they do focus on women, they tend to focus on women from the upper echelons of society who hold more power. This is why this book is so important; it tells the often harrowing stories of women who didn’t hold power. They existed and they matter.

The writing was fairly academic and dense. I personally enjoyed it, but I come from an academic background. The research was incredibly done. I recommend this book to anyone interested in history.

Thank you Netgalley & Pen and Sword History Publishing for an eARC ♥️

"Exploring the Lives of Victorian England Prostitutes" by Claire Richardson is a meticulously researched and insightful look into the lives of women in the sex trade during the Victorian era. The book is packed with fascinating stories and historical details, and Richardson's writing is clear, engaging, and accessible.

I was particularly impressed by the author's sensitive and non-judgmental approach to the subject. She presents the women's stories with compassion and empathy, without sensationalism or moralizing. Instead, she highlights the social and economic factors that shaped their lives, such as poverty, lack of education, and gender inequality.

The book also explores the broader historical context, including the social and political changes that affected the sex trade during the Victorian era. Richardson's analysis is nuanced and thoughtful, and she raises important questions about the nature of prostitution, the role of women in society, and the impact of social and economic policies on marginalized communities.

It's a great resource for historians, scholars, and anyone interested in gender studies, social justice, and the history of sexuality. Richardson's book is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the past and its ongoing impact on our present and future.♥️