Josephine Butler

by JaneJordan (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2007

  $12.55

  'I have looked into Hell', said Josephine Butler. What she saw during her work with prostitutes in the slums is still shocking. The transformation of this genteel wife of a schoolmaster and mother of four, into a powerful force for change is still one of the great stories of the 19th century. Josephine Butler was no ordinary reformer - she did not believe in punitive discipline, and the houses she established for prostitutes to rebuild their lives were very different from those set up by other Victorian reformers. She approached these prostitutes as friends, taking some into her home with the full support of her family. Her story is also the story of a remarkable marriage. Physically frail, Josephine Butler brought superhuman energy to her often dangerous campaigning work, often travelling great distances, swaying huge crowds with her speeches and writing fiery and effective polemics. She was largely responsible for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts in 1886, which had subjected women to painful, humiliating examinations, and her involvement in the exposure of the sale of young girls into prostitution helped raise the age of consent for girls from 13 to 16. She was prominent also in the campaign for equal education which ultimately opened universities to women. Jane Jordan's vivid biography attempts to do justice to a fascinating woman, so much of her time and yet so modern in her attitudes.