Page 88 - All About History - Issue 29-15

Reviews

WOMEN ON DUTY: A

HISTORY OF THE FIRST

FEMALE POLICE FORCE

Deeds not words
Author Sophie Jackson Publisher Fonthill Media Price £20 Released Out now

ophie Jackson spends a good deal of space While the focus is naturally on Mary Allen
detailing the crimes and punishments of and Margaret Damer Dawson, the book treats
women that led to them being active in us to a wide range of voices, perspectives and
the police force as she does on the police journeys along the way. Despite an absorbing
Sforce itself. That’s not exactly a negative – it breakdown and analysis of the events leading
does describe itself as a ‘history’, after all – but it up to and during this turbulent political time,
is something to bear in mind for those who are there are a few turns of phrase that seem a
already familiar with the Suffragette movement little out of place; to mention the armies being
in Britain during the early-20th century. It’s a described as ‘easy prey’ for prostitutes only a
tricky situation, knowing how far back to go with handful of paragraphs away from an attempt
these kind of intertwined human rights issues, to humanise these women is a little jarring,
but you may find yourself wishing, as you read for example. It’s never particularly outrageous,
through Lady Constance Lytton’s prison stays but there is a consistent use of more emotive
or the Contagious Diseases Act of 1864, that it language that sometimes feels unsuitable.
might have been a little more razor sharp in its These are small issues, and the book as a
evaluation and education on the roles of women whole, despite feeling a little repetitive from
within the law, particularly as this section of the recurring discussions of female-focused
book is so fascinating, in part because it is such a crimes, is an enthralling insight into an area
little-discussed facet of the feminist movement. not given much attention in feminist history.

MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS

A collection of mutinies and murders on board Britain’s boats
Author Martin Baggoley Publisher Fonthill Media Price £14.99 Released December 2014

RECOMMENDS… long ocean voyage can be a very readable. Another positive note
stressful affair. Cooping up is that the reasons for the murders
Stalin’s Favorite groups of men for months at a vary quite a lot. Although several
are simply mutinies, others involve
timewithalackofsanitation,
Author: Igor Nebolsin Price: £45
Publisher: Helion & Company Afood,waterandentertainment violent disagreements, slaves rebelling
canleadtotemperaturesrisingwith andcaptainswithagrudgeagainsta
The war the
Nazis waged fatal results. Martin Baggoley has particular sailor. Even the mutinies are
against the compiledacollectionof14murders fordifferingreasons,soyouneverfeel
Soviet Union that have occurred on board British likeyou’rereadingacarboncopyofa
in 1941-45
turned vessels, explaining the reasons for previous story.
western them, the subsequent trial and the The trials are also fascinating,
Russia and punishment the perpetrators were demonstrating the difficulties courts
Eastern
Europe into handed out. hadindealingwithincidentswith
the biggest When writing about a subject as limited, biased witnesses as well as
slaughter- gruesome and grisly as murder, it can complex maritime law.
house the be all too easy to sensationalise the One issue is certainly the price.
world had
ever seen. Among the millions of lives story for maximum effect. Thankfully, £14.99 for a 90-page paperback
swept up by this murderous tidal wave Baggoleytakesaverystraight-laced seemstobereallyrathersteep,
were the 60,000 or so who made up approach to describing the murders, even accounting for the amount of
the Soviet 2nd Guards Tank Army. This
is as comprehensive an account of their preferringtofocusmoreontheevents research that was required. This is a
journey from Kursk in July 1943 to the surrounding the killing, rather than the thoroughly interesting book, full of
fall of Berlin in April 1945 as is ever murder itself. Although this does make variedstoriesofmaritimemurdersand
likely to be written. It gives us a highly thebookalittlebitdryinplaces,the their repercussions, but it is certainly
detailed account of the army’s war from
its inception to its offensive in Romania. subjects that Baggoley is covering are debatablewhetherornotitisworth
interestingenoughtomakethisbook the price.
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