The Case of the Married Woman: Caroline Norton and Her Fight for Justice for Women

I have enjoyed this book immensely. Very readable and interesting.I appreciated the research done to make it relevant to the times.

Carolyn Norton was a contemporary of Queen Victoria, Lord Melbourne, Mary Shelley and so many others from the Victorian era that we know. She was in the background of all the events of that time that we know about but we didn't realize she was there. As the wife of a politician and friend of the Prime Minister Lord Melbourne, she held popular salons in her home where all the major figures of the day gathered to talk and debate. She was a popular, celebrated author whose works were widely published and read by commoners and the Queen. Sadly, she is most widely known for being the subject of a notorious court case in which her husband, who was known to physically abuse her, took Lord Melbourne to Court for being in "criminal conversation" (can you guess what that means?) with his wife. Lord M. was found not guilty and continued his historic career, but Caroline's was the reputation that was ruined. In a time when a husband controlled all of his wife's property (including her children and the clothes on her back) and divorce was obtainable only by an Act of Parliament, Caroline spent most of the rest of her life pursing custody/visitation rights to her sons and the use of the income she earned with her writing. She was instrumental in convincing Parliament to pass the first laws granting "Infant Custody" to mothers. At the end of her life, she found happiness (after her husband died) in a loving but too-short second marriage. I was amazed that I had never heard of this influential woman and I am grateful for Fraser's well-written, thorough biography of her.

Caroline Norton was a 19th century celebrity, who used the scandals surrounding her ( mostly fictional) to advocate for reform to the laws affecting women and children.

This is a good account of the injustices women suffered ( especially married ones) told through the case of Caroline Norton. At times the unfairness of the law at the time is breathtaking ( women with illegitimate children were allowed to keep them , even if they were disgraced. Married women had no right to their children.) Caroline suffered enormously but she was intelligent and a writer with good connections and friends. She prevailed but it was a tough fight.

Fascinating story told by distinguished author and scholar. Very topical now because it highlights the plight of women of that era.