Will I love Minding Her Own Business?

It's long been assumed that in the 19th century most women (other than domestic servants) stayed home, limited to being wives and mothers. Catherine Bishop's marvellously researched book completely changes our understanding. Through extensive cross-checking of different kinds of records (such as trade directories, newspapers, and personal accounts) Bishop has given us a startling, fact-based picture of colonial Sydney. Suddenly we see the numerous women running boarding houses, taverns, shops, and various kinds of schools, even owning property. They may have been largely excluded from politics and professions, and subject to coverture, but they were astute and active participants in… show more.