Sarnia, I so agree about Halli Rubenhold's The Five. It was a real eye-opener, as I'd only seen the women killed by Jack the Ripper portrayed as victims walking on "the wrong side of the road". The book showed just how difficult many women's lives were in those times, regardless of class - not least because they needed a man's money and position in order to live. As soon as a woman's male supporter died, she effectively had nothing - no home, no money, no status. It's something we struggle to understand now, so I've developed a new respect for the brave suffragettes and other women who got us the vote and the right to possess our own money and property. If I may put on my literary reviewer's hat for a moment, I found this book an excellent piece of research in itself, regardless of its subject. She has written several other books, all I suppose coming under the umbrella of "women's studies", although don't let that put you off!
