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The Worst Woman in Sydney
The Life and Crimes of Kate Leigh
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The Worst Woman in Sydney
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See moreMatriarch of the criminal underworld ... or the Robin Hood of inner Sydney?
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Description
Matriarch of the criminal underworld ... or the Robin Hood of inner Sydney?
The legend of Kate Leigh, Sydney's famed brothel madam, sly grog seller, and drug dealer, has loomed large in TV's Underbelly and every other account of Sydney's criminal history from the 1920s to the 1960s. However, she has never had a biography of her own.
Despite having more than 100 criminal convictions to her name, Kate Leigh is also remembered as a local hero, giving money to needy families and supporting her local community through the hard times of Depression and war. In The Worst Woman in Sydney, novelist and historian Leigh Straw teases out the full story of how this wayward Reformatory girl from Dubbo made a fortune in eastern Sydney and defied the gender stereotyping of the time to become a leading underworld figure.
Watch Leigh Straw's interview with William Yeoman for the Seven West Travel Club website here.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Worst Woman in Sydney by Leigh Straw is often praised for its meticulous research and engaging writing. It provides a vivid portrait of Kate Leigh's life, delving into her notorious reputation and the historical context of Sydney's underworld in the early 20th century. Reviewers commend the book for bringing to life a complex character and shedding light on an intriguing part of Australian history.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781742234793
Publisher: NewSouth Publishing
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 01 July 2016
Country: Australia
Imprint: NewSouth Publishing
Illustration: 16 illustrations
Audience: General / adult, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 22.0mm
Width: 134.0mm
Height: 205.0mm
Weight: 278g
Pages: 256
About the Author
Leigh Straw is a historian and author. Her books include three historical crime novels (Limestone, Sophia Lane and Legacy), a history of criminal women in Perth and Fremantle (Drunks, Pests and Harlots, 2013) and a forthcoming book on Australian World War I soldiers. She is Senior Lecturer at the University of Notre Dame.
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