Set in London and Monmouth in the late 1700s, this is an extraordinary novel about Mary Saunders, the young daughter of a poor seamstress. Mary hungers greedily for fine clothes and ribbons, as people of her class do for food and warmth. It's a hunger that lures her into prostitution at the age of thirteen. Mary is thrown out by her distraught mother when she gets pregnant and almost dies on the dangerous streets of London. Her saviour is Doll - a prostitute. Mary roams London freely with Doll, selling her body to all ...
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Set in London and Monmouth in the late 1700s, this is an extraordinary novel about Mary Saunders, the young daughter of a poor seamstress. Mary hungers greedily for fine clothes and ribbons, as people of her class do for food and warmth. It's a hunger that lures her into prostitution at the age of thirteen. Mary is thrown out by her distraught mother when she gets pregnant and almost dies on the dangerous streets of London. Her saviour is Doll - a prostitute. Mary roams London freely with Doll, selling her body to all manner of 'cullies', dressed whorishly in colourful, gaudy dresses with a painted red smile. Faced with bad debts and threats upon her life she eventually flees to Monmouth, her mother's hometown, where she attempts to start a new life as a maid in Mrs Jones's house. But Mary soon discovers that she can't escape her past and just how dearly people like her pay for yearnings not fitting to their class in society...
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THIS IS A VERY DARK STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL WHO IS THROWN OUT ONTO THE STREETS IN 18TH CENTURY LONDON AND HAS TO TURN TO A LIFE OF PROSTITUTION IN ORDER TO SURVIVE. GOOD DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SEEDY SIDE OF LIFE BY A VERY CAPABLE AUTHOR. DESPITE THE CHARACTERS SELFISHNESS YOU FIND YOURSELF REALLY ROOTING FOR HER REDEMPTION. A VERY SAD TALE WHICH WILL HAUNT YOU FOR DAYS AFTER READING IT.
mooncalf
Apr 2, 2007
Slammerkin
Slammerkin would be a very enjoyable book for historical fiction fans, particularly those interested in 18th century Britain. Mary becomes a prostitute after her mother has thrown her out, and becomes adjusted to the life(this book is not for the prudish) when she has to escape to a quiet country village because of a debt she owes, and tries to hide her past from the family that takes her in. the descriptions of London squalor and the life of prostitutes at that time is very vivid, and the contrast between that and the village life in Monmoth, which she runs away to, is very well portrayed. The characters are believable and the plot is interesting, and I thought this was a very well-written book that I would highly recommend