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innerweststreetlibrarian's review against another edition
What a horror story. I can't get over the feeling that it should have been sufficient punishment just to take the trip, let alone be locked up again at the other end! And these girls had it very easy in comparison to the boats that followed! I love that Australia was founded by felons and whores :)
lisa_setepenre's review
4.0
I'm not certain how reliable the history found in The Floating Brothel is, but I found it incredibly entertaining, readable, and fascinating. Some of it does resonate with what I learnt in school (even though I've forgotten most of it) and it is absolutely fascinating to see Australia during the very early years. The story Siân Rees tells in The Floating Brothel is fascinating, and parts of her writing are very visceral. That said, I feel as though we're only getting a very superficial version of the story - this is not necessarily Rees' fault, as there's only so much history has left us of these women - and that a much more fascinating, complex story is going on underneath.
caterinaanna's review against another edition
4.0
This is just the sort of history I can cope with: anecdotal, but with some continuity of characters; acknowledging sources, but not full of footnotes; including background information, but not tediously detailed. A Previous reviewer on BookCrossing said you could almost smell the ship, and I would agree that the descriptions of the smells are vivid enough to justify that comment.
deeweaver's review against another edition
5.0
A highly readable book. Despite the bodice-ripper cover, it's non fiction, the true story of an 18th century ship taking female convicts to Sydney Cove in Australia. A great account of the daily practicalities of such a long journey; ensuring enough food and water, keeping the ship in good order, and the relationships that inevitably developed between the crew and the women. I can highly recommend it.
cspiwak's review against another edition
2.0
AN intriguing subject- but , since most of the prtagonists were illiterate, there wasn't enough meat left to tell their story
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