Caroline Norton's Defense

By Caroline Norton,

Book cover of Caroline Norton's Defense: English Laws for Women in the 19th Century

Book description

This account of the author's experience at the hands of an "imperfect state of law" in early 19th-century England makes a passionate plea for equal justice for women. Largely as a result of this book the passage of the Married Women's Property Act and reform of the English Marriage and…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Caroline Norton's Defense as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I’m captivated by Caroline Norton’s spirit and contradictions. She fought against inequality in English laws regarding child custody, marriage, divorce, contracts, property, and wages. But she continually maintained that she was against the idea of women’s suffrage or equality with men, writing instead that she claimed only one right: the right of women’s protection under the law.

I appreciate how she makes us think about the law in new ways, and also admire her candid writing about domestic violence. When her brutal husband destroyed her letters, attacked her, and took away her children and her income, she promised that as…

Want books like Caroline Norton's Defense?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Caroline Norton's Defense.

Browse books like Caroline Norton's Defense

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in domestic violence, Victorian, and Women's suffrage?

Victorian 163 books
Women's Suffrage 18 books