The Floating Brothel: The Extraordinary True Story of and Eighteenth Century Ship and Its Cargo of Female Convicts by Sian Rees 2.5 stars

[Karin]

2.5 stars

This is the story, as best as it could be pieced together from journals and accounts, of 237 women who were sentenced to spend either 7 years or the rest of their natural lives in Sidney Cove, Australia, who were shipped out aboard the Lady Julian. They went from the horrors of overcrowded prisons to life on board this ship, which was no picnic, although they were fed and cared for better on that ship than convicts were on many others. I nearly liked it, and some parts were better than others, but over all it was rather dry. Perhaps I have been spoiled by some of the more recent nonfiction books I've read, perhaps it just wasn't my style of writing, since overall those who finished this book and rated it gave higher ratings.