A review by louanges
Victorians Undone: Tales of the Flesh in the Age of Decorum by Kathryn Hughes

Not sure what to make of this one. The book has a great concept, and it’s interesting and evocatively written, but the chapters don’t really tie together or bring anything new to the table. The Fanny Adams chapter was particularly tangential, focusing on the murder and trial rather than providing an arguably more relevant exploration of Adams’ legacy and the development of the cult of the child. The whole thing could have been salvaged with a robust conclusion to tie everything together but instead it left off abruptly with an anecdote about tinned meat.

I’m not sure it’s the ground-breaking eye-opener advertised but it was still pretty readable, and probably a good introduction for anyone looking to explore Victorian social history.