From the title you may be led to believe that this is a dry and dusty treatise of interest only to researchers of women's history. Well, don't be fooled. Once you open the rich chocolate brown cover you enter a world of real Victorian women; poor, posh and working class, and learn about their lives and positions in society through numerous, well researched, anecdotes lavishly supported by reproductions of contemporary adverts and posters. Most surprising to many readers will be the wide variety of businesses owned, and/or run by women; anything from a "keeper of a mangle for hire" to a blacksmith!

Although the darker side of Victorian life is covered, including baby farming, infanticide and prostitition, the book manages to celebrate the amazing ability of these women to overcome many of the hurdles put in their way by a male dominated society; and shows that not all Victorian women were delicate hothouse flowers only suited to marriage and childbearing.

This book is not only for women readers. As a man I found it a fascinating insight into the lesser known areas of Victorian life and society which normal history books gloss over.

So, to conclude; this is not your average history book as it manages to combine real and, in many ways, unique view of history with a good read, and even a few laughs.