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The Worst Woman in Sydney

The Life and Crimes of Kate Leigh
By Leigh Straw
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Worst Woman in Sydney by Leigh Straw explores the tumultuous life of Kate Leigh, a notorious figure in Sydney's criminal underworld during the early 20th century. The biography delves into her rise from poverty to becoming a powerful figure in illicit activities, including illegal alcohol trade and other enterprises, highlighting her resilience and impact on the city's history. With a focus on her complex personality and the societal context, the book offers an insightful look at one of Sydney's most infamous women.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by true stories of women who defied societal norms in history. Delving into the life of an infamous figure in early 20th-century Sydney, it offers a gripping narrative of crime, resilience, and the challenges faced by women in a rapidly changing world.

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The Worst Woman in Sydney

Matriarch of the criminal underworld ... or the Robin Hood of inner Sydney?

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! 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.

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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

Collections

Biography & Memoir Education & Reference Leigh Straw Non-Fiction Political Biographies

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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