A review by nornors
The Floating Brothel: The Extraordinary True Story of an Eighteenth-Century Ship and Its Cargo of Female Convicts by Siân Rees

adventurous dark informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

I kept doubting this book's accuracy. For example,

"By night, when 200 women were shut into the orlop hold, it was all rather less hygienic. The orlop was equipped with 'easing-chairs' or commodes. The most prized berths were furthest from these and closest to the hatches, which gave some ventilation. The majority of women had now been living together in an all-female environment for months, even years, and their menstrual cycles would have started to synchronise. One week each month, the distinctive odour of menstrual blood was added to the smell of the easing-chairs."

It was fascinating to read about the women of the Lady Julian. An easy and entertaining read, however, I would recommend finding a different book on female convicts in place of reading this one, as I feel that her research and claims should have been proof-read and validated before publication.