You know it’s going to be a good book when it starts with a brawl. Helen Taylor and Her Fight for the People by Janet Smith resurfaces the story of an important figure in women’s and social movements in England (and Ireland and Scotland) in the late 19th century. Often remembered (if at all!) as Harriet Taylor Mill’s daughter and John Stuart Mill’s stepdaughter (she was also his collaborator), she was in her own right a prominent and accomplished political figure. The causes she advanced included equal pay for women teachers, free education for all, land reform (she advocated nationalizing all land), Irish home rule, and of course, women’s suffrage. A London school board member, her advocacy for education also included an equitable curriculum for girls and, in effect, day care at schools (which she had seen in other countries), so that instead of being made to stay home to take care of their younger siblings, girls could attend school. Taylor was also the first woman to run for.. Read more
NetGalley, E W Parker

A must read if you are a fan of true crime and especially a fan of all the mystery involving what has to be one of the biggest true crime stories in the world: Jack the Ripper. A very interesting view on the victims, possible suspects and according to the author the true identity of the ripper.
NetGalley, Elisa Martins

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars Most readers and certainly anyone who enjoys any of Dickens work will find The Real Charles Dickens an indispensable companion volume. I’m blown away by the content, well set out and much is new to me. The authors give you a real feel for this rather enigmatic man. He was full of contradiction and seemed to have a number of ‘faces’ he presented to the world. He carefully curated information about him whilst he was alive, showing excellence in PR and also the extent to which he was prepared to manipulate his public image. The Real Charles Dickens is well set out with detailed insight into his early life and background, his wife and children, his affairs and much more. There’s a real sense of his financial struggles and rise to fame of fortune and how this affected him. His inspiration was drawn from life and real places and I found the literary walks section of this book fascinating. It allows the reader to sense the places and people. The final section.. Read more
NetGalley, Anita Wallas

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars This is a fascinating book, well-written and thoroughly researched. It is about a real private detective, yet at times it reads like a novel. In addition to telling the story of Henry Slater, this book discusses identity in Victorian society including class and gender. Even the parts of the book that feel slower are interesting in painting a portrait of Slater and the society in which he lived. I was totally engrossed, even while I was appalled by some of the actions that were pertinent to the trial. Fans of historical true crime (that doesn't involve murder) and Sherlock Holmes will likely find this book interesting.
NetGalley, Katie A

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars Great book, hard think how life would been like for possibly my ancestors. Well written, worth reading.
NetGalley, Karen Bull