002 - Eunice Smithdrunk

Step back to 1904 and meet Margaret Nevinson, a determined suffragette who took a bold stand as a member of the board of guardians at Hampstead Heath. At that time in the UK, welfare assistance was only available through the grim confines of the workhouse—where people were required to labor under harsh conditions, often worse than those in prison. The workhouse became a haunting backdrop for literature, most notably inspiring Charles Dickens Oliver Twist. In this captivating collection of short stories, Nevinson sheds light on the harrowing realities endured by women, highlighting tales of resilience and despair. One poignant story recounts a married woman who, despite collecting money and securing a home for her children, finds herself trapped by the law as the property of her husband. Another follows a Cambridge-educated woman spiraling into depression after her husbands death, only to seek solace in the workhouse. With 26 gripping narratives, Nevinson eloquently exposes the dark shadows of the welfare system, making this book a must-read for fans of Dickens and anyone passionate about feminism and social history. - Summary by Stav Nisser.