How did 19th-century English women navigate the restrictive social, legal, and economic structures of their era? Janet Horowitz Murray, a scholar of Victorian history, compiles a collection of primary source documents to illuminate the lived experiences of women across various social strata. The book argues that these voices, often marginalized or excluded from traditional historical narratives, provide a necessary counter-perspective to the male-dominated records of the period.

Historians and educators frequently cite this work as a valuable resource for accessing primary source material that is otherwise difficult to locate. Scholars note the academic rigor of the selection process and the clarity of the contextual introductions provided for each document.