Cover of Slammerkin

Slammerkin

by Emma Donoghue · 2000

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Mary Saunders, a lower-class London schoolgirl, was born into rough cloth but hungered for lace and the trappings of a higher station than her family would ever know. In 18th-century England, Mary's shrewd instincts will get her only so far, and she despairs of the plans made for her to carve out a trade as a seamstress or a maid. Unwilling to bend to such a destiny, Mary strikes out on a painful, fateful journey all her own. Inspired by the obscure historical figure Mary Saunders, Slammerkin is a provocative, graphic tale and a rich feast of an historical novel. Author Emma Donoghue probes the gap between a young girl's quest for freedom and a better life and the shackles that society imposes on her. "Never give up your liberty."

Genre
Georgian and 18th centuryGeorgian and 18th centuryMore like thisLess of thishistorical fictionhistorical fictionMore like thisLess of thisliterary fictionliterary fictionMore like thisLess of thislesbianlesbianMore like thisLess of thiscoming of agecoming of ageMore like thisLess of this
Themes
womenwomenMore like thisLess of thismurdermurderMore like thisLess of thisLGBTLGBTMore like thisLess of thispovertypovertyMore like thisLess of thissexualitysexualityMore like thisLess of this
Setting
18th century18th centuryMore like thisLess of thisGeorgianGeorgianMore like thisLess of thisEnglandEnglandMore like thisLess of thisLondonLondonMore like thisLess of thisBritishBritishMore like thisLess of this
Subject
historyhistoryMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
long · 410 pages

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