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Notorious Australian Women
The sensational lives and exploits of some of Australia′s most audacious women
Notorious Australian Women celebrates the lives of some of Australia′s most fearless, brash and scandalous women. There′s Tilly Devine, who went from streetwalker in London to wealthy Sydney madam and standover merchant; Mary Bryant, the highway robber and First Fleeter who escaped by rowing from Port Jackson to Timor with her two children; Lola Montez, the Irish-born grande horizontale, who destroyed King Ludwig I of Bavaria; Ellen Tremaye and Marion Edwards, women who challenged the gender order and became men; and Helena Rubinstein, who rewrote her humble Polish background and became one of the most successful and astute businesswomen in the world.
From bushrangers, courtesans and cross-dressers, to writers, designers and a radical or two, what these splendid rebels have in common is a determination to take their destinies into their own hands.
Kay Saunders AM was Professor of History and Senator of the University of Queensland from 2002 to 2006. In 2001 she received the Medal of the National Museum of Australia, and in 2006 was the recipient of the John Kerr Medal from the Royal Historical Society of Queensland.
Notorious Australian Women celebrates the lives of some of Australia′s most fearless, brash and scandalous women. There′s Tilly Devine, who went from streetwalker in London to wealthy Sydney madam and standover merchant; Mary Bryant, the highway robber and First Fleeter who escaped by rowing from Port Jackson to Timor with her two children; Lola Montez, the Irish-born grande horizontale, who destroyed King Ludwig I of Bavaria; Ellen Tremaye and Marion Edwards, women who challenged the gender order and became men; and Helena Rubinstein, who rewrote her humble Polish background and became one of the most successful and astute businesswomen in the world.
From bushrangers, courtesans and cross-dressers, to writers, designers and a radical or two, what these splendid rebels have in common is a determination to take their destinies into their own hands.
Kay Saunders AM was Professor of History and Senator of the University of Queensland from 2002 to 2006. In 2001 she received the Medal of the National Museum of Australia, and in 2006 was the recipient of the John Kerr Medal from the Royal Historical Society of Queensland.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 22, 2015
I think the title is stretching the truth a bit in this collection of biographies. Not all these women were notorious, they weren't all Australian, and they weren't all women.
Firstly, many of these women had, well, a reputation but that doesn't make them notorious. A man can be a boss, but a woman is just bossy. While some of these women do have a criminal history (Mary Cockerill, Tilly Devine, Rosaleen Norton), others are just a little cold or headstrong. I don't think Lillian Roxon, for instance, can really be described as notorious.
Secondly, the concept of all these women being Australian is a little ridiculous. Lola Montez is one many have brought up already. I can forgive the early biographies, when Australia was just being settled (though I do appreciate the inclusion of Indigenous Australians in this collection), but just because someone visited Australia for an extended period of time doesn't make them Australian. Eliza Fraser is another.
Finally- and this isn't something I have a problem with, and I loved reading about- is the life of Edward De Lacy Evans and Bill Edwards. I absolutely loved that these two men were included in this line up. Both of these were new to me, too. The life of two transgendered men in Australian history was great to read. And for them both to have married women, multiple times, was astounding!
I do think Saunders was stretching the collection at times, and she was just trying to pad it out. It seemed to swing from pure facts, to a rather emotional tie to the women that doesn't entirely seem routed in history.
Furthermore, a lot of these women were bisexual or lesbians. I'm not sure if this was all true or just speculation on the author's behalf.
Firstly, many of these women had, well, a reputation but that doesn't make them notorious. A man can be a boss, but a woman is just bossy. While some of these women do have a criminal history (Mary Cockerill, Tilly Devine, Rosaleen Norton), others are just a little cold or headstrong. I don't think Lillian Roxon, for instance, can really be described as notorious.
Secondly, the concept of all these women being Australian is a little ridiculous. Lola Montez is one many have brought up already. I can forgive the early biographies, when Australia was just being settled (though I do appreciate the inclusion of Indigenous Australians in this collection), but just because someone visited Australia for an extended period of time doesn't make them Australian. Eliza Fraser is another.
Finally- and this isn't something I have a problem with, and I loved reading about- is the life of Edward De Lacy Evans and Bill Edwards. I absolutely loved that these two men were included in this line up. Both of these were new to me, too. The life of two transgendered men in Australian history was great to read. And for them both to have married women, multiple times, was astounding!
I do think Saunders was stretching the collection at times, and she was just trying to pad it out. It seemed to swing from pure facts, to a rather emotional tie to the women that doesn't entirely seem routed in history.
Furthermore, a lot of these women were bisexual or lesbians. I'm not sure if this was all true or just speculation on the author's behalf.
March 29, 2018
Notorious has a very wide defination in this book as does Australian - which apparently includes women who only spent some time Down Under. I did love the inclusion of Indiginous women. Though there are some glossing over what could be issues.
It's interesting, but not espeically gripping in the later chapters.
It's interesting, but not espeically gripping in the later chapters.
September 10, 2011
Read this in one sitting last night - had borrowed this from the library first before I went out and purchased. Glad I did. Not happy with the inclusion of Lola Montez and an Aussie just because she spent some time here. A few familiar names and a few names I was not familiar.
June 16, 2016
Notorious, eccentric, bohemian, and unconventional. An interesting mix of women over two centuries. A well researched book that was easy to read.
June 29, 2022
This is an interesting selection of short bios about women who have made headlines for various reasons.
It is difficult to capture the lives of these women in sufficient detail with 18 women featured in 260 pages so this is more a snapshot that I would use to direct future reading if any of the characters represented strike up an interest.
It is an eclectic mix of women who were involved in many things from journalism, to entertainment, crime, 'grande horizontales', empire builders and those who wanted to challenge gender norms.
My only disappointment was an unnecessary exaggeration in the blurb, about the exploits of Mary Bryant. A woman who struggled as a First Fleeter and followed a life of crime with her husband. Escaping the colony, she is described as having rowed a boat from Port Jackson up to Timor with her two young children. What actually happened was she was in a boat that did sail that course, except there were 8 other men on board, most of whom were experienced sailors - so not necessary to gild the lily as the journey in itself was impressive.
Aside from that, an interesting collection about some strong women in our history.
It is difficult to capture the lives of these women in sufficient detail with 18 women featured in 260 pages so this is more a snapshot that I would use to direct future reading if any of the characters represented strike up an interest.
It is an eclectic mix of women who were involved in many things from journalism, to entertainment, crime, 'grande horizontales', empire builders and those who wanted to challenge gender norms.
My only disappointment was an unnecessary exaggeration in the blurb, about the exploits of Mary Bryant. A woman who struggled as a First Fleeter and followed a life of crime with her husband. Escaping the colony, she is described as having rowed a boat from Port Jackson up to Timor with her two young children. What actually happened was she was in a boat that did sail that course, except there were 8 other men on board, most of whom were experienced sailors - so not necessary to gild the lily as the journey in itself was impressive.
Aside from that, an interesting collection about some strong women in our history.
January 6, 2018
This book was an easy read, and well researched with lots of great and interesting information about the women included. I do find a very tenuous link to some of the women's bios being called Australian, yes there is a small link in some cases, however they are not "Australian" as I would read the word. All in all though an excellent read, I have learned a lot about the personal hardships and suffering of some women, and explained reasons as to why they have done what they have done - or experienced. Great historical information for anyone with an interest in Australian History, women's lives and crime, suffering and general biographical info.
June 8, 2020
Rather disappointingly, the connection between Australia and a number of these women was tenuous and Saunders fails to make a persuasive case as to why the country should claim them. She is also unable to bring the women to life in the way most good biographers can, while the book's production leaves a lot to be desired, with irritating typographical and grammatical errors to distract a reader who is already losing interest.
August 25, 2021
This is not at all engagingly written. It was bitty and I found myself having to read sentences over to try to understand where a newly mentioned character fits in. The book feels like it needs several edits to make it more readable and the writing does not at all do justice to the material.
April 14, 2015
Notorious Australian Women consists of a number of relatively succinct biographies on various badly behaved Australian women from the 19th and 20th century, who all earned infamy at one point or another through scandal or daringness.
This is a very readable book and I do like the idea behind it. But these biographies are mere outlines and at times author Kay Saunders seems to be assuming how these women would have thought and felt. Additionally, the last biography, on music journalist Lillian Roxon seemed to suggest a level of emotional involvement that I didn't really feel comfortable with in a non-fiction book.
Furthermore, the definition of "Australian" was somewhat stretched for some of these women, as was the case with Lola Montez. I also found it a little disappointing how so many of Saunders' subjects actually left Australia and spent great tracts of time in other countries.
As with Saunders' Deadly Australian Women , it's also a little frustrating how there is no allowance for a bibliography or further reading section, as Saunders' biographies are great introductory pieces, but allow for little depth.
This is a very readable book and I do like the idea behind it. But these biographies are mere outlines and at times author Kay Saunders seems to be assuming how these women would have thought and felt. Additionally, the last biography, on music journalist Lillian Roxon seemed to suggest a level of emotional involvement that I didn't really feel comfortable with in a non-fiction book.
Furthermore, the definition of "Australian" was somewhat stretched for some of these women, as was the case with Lola Montez. I also found it a little disappointing how so many of Saunders' subjects actually left Australia and spent great tracts of time in other countries.
As with Saunders' Deadly Australian Women , it's also a little frustrating how there is no allowance for a bibliography or further reading section, as Saunders' biographies are great introductory pieces, but allow for little depth.
March 13, 2013
I'm addicted to a seconds bookshop on the way to railway square from central station. This book was picked today because of the inclusion of Lola Montez, the chapter on whom i avidly read on the bus journey straight after; because a friend, Fifi, who died this year, had gotten a grant to do a show about her. The author has filled my mind with new facts about Lola Montez which is why i read the book. Engrossed in Broomstick again but will get back to this one .... ta KS
February 1, 2015
Although the stories of the women in this book were interesting, the author made a lot of assumptions about what these historical figures were thinking and feeling. I found this really distracting and kind of annoying, and found that it detracted quite a lot from how much I enjoyed the book.
March 5, 2014
Interesting read about some women who did some amazing things for Australia. very few I had heard of so a great history lesson away from mainstream.
July 23, 2013
definfitions of Australian and notorious was questionable, but interesting none the less.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews