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Victoria Unbuttoned: A Red-Light History of BC’s Capital City
A nuanced history of prostitution in Victoria told through newly uncovered stories of women who lived it.
From the establishment of Fort Victoria, BC’s capital city has had a long history of prostitution. But little has been written on the lives of the women themselves—some of the most enterprising women in Victoria’s past. Instead, these women’s stories have been relegated to judgmental newspaper headlines. Now historian Linda J. Eversole takes a deeper look at their lives, from the mid-nineteenth century to the First World War and the Moral Reform movement.
Story by story, from the fur trade, through confederation, waves of immigration, and attempts at reform and legislation, Eversole uncovers the histories of the women who made a living, and in some cases a fortune, from the world’s oldest profession.
With accompanying maps and historical photos, new research, and the support of the descendants of some of her subjects, Eversole presents a nuanced, human series of portraits that enhances our understanding of this important strand of the city’s history.
From the establishment of Fort Victoria, BC’s capital city has had a long history of prostitution. But little has been written on the lives of the women themselves—some of the most enterprising women in Victoria’s past. Instead, these women’s stories have been relegated to judgmental newspaper headlines. Now historian Linda J. Eversole takes a deeper look at their lives, from the mid-nineteenth century to the First World War and the Moral Reform movement.
Story by story, from the fur trade, through confederation, waves of immigration, and attempts at reform and legislation, Eversole uncovers the histories of the women who made a living, and in some cases a fortune, from the world’s oldest profession.
With accompanying maps and historical photos, new research, and the support of the descendants of some of her subjects, Eversole presents a nuanced, human series of portraits that enhances our understanding of this important strand of the city’s history.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 5, 2023
Victoria Unbuttoned by Linda Eversole
Linda grew up in a cabin in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. B.C. Canada. Her work took her from archeological excavations in England to curatorial and executive positions in the Royal British Columbia Museum, the B.C Historical Branch and the City Archives. Thus, a very accomplished and academically formed writer.
She has written 2 books: "Stella Carrol's story" and "Victoria Unbuttoned".
The contents of "Victoria Unbuttoned" cover one hundred years from 1843-1944 in the context of how prostitution developed, grew and mostly disappeared during the growth and change of Victoria, the Capital City of British Columbia, Canada. In the course of those 100 years Victoria grew from a Hudson's Bay Fort to a middle size city thereby influencing the growing, prospering and declining tendencies of prostitution along with the fur trade, exploration, land deals, morality of churches and 2 world wars. Eversole highlights the lives of 10 women in the business during that century and observes 2 women, Stella and Christine, in particular.
The title of the book is intriguing and will wet the appetite of future readers.
Eversole's style is entertaining although somewhat dry as her background is academic.
Review by Ada, posted by Terry
Linda grew up in a cabin in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. B.C. Canada. Her work took her from archeological excavations in England to curatorial and executive positions in the Royal British Columbia Museum, the B.C Historical Branch and the City Archives. Thus, a very accomplished and academically formed writer.
She has written 2 books: "Stella Carrol's story" and "Victoria Unbuttoned".
The contents of "Victoria Unbuttoned" cover one hundred years from 1843-1944 in the context of how prostitution developed, grew and mostly disappeared during the growth and change of Victoria, the Capital City of British Columbia, Canada. In the course of those 100 years Victoria grew from a Hudson's Bay Fort to a middle size city thereby influencing the growing, prospering and declining tendencies of prostitution along with the fur trade, exploration, land deals, morality of churches and 2 world wars. Eversole highlights the lives of 10 women in the business during that century and observes 2 women, Stella and Christine, in particular.
The title of the book is intriguing and will wet the appetite of future readers.
Eversole's style is entertaining although somewhat dry as her background is academic.
Review by Ada, posted by Terry
March 10, 2024
This slight book didn't give me the kind of insight I'd hoped to get. The reliance on her former book, and also newspapers made new material more slight. I also found the writing rather dry. The first seven pages seemed very self-indulgent to me--giving the author's history as a historian. The book could have started on page 8 and then possibly her history condensed for an author bio at the end.
August 3, 2021
The author didn’t have much to go on other than newspaper snippets so the stories became rather mechanical and repetitive. I got bored with it and ended up skimming the last 1/2 of the stories, sorry to say, as the ladies’ stories would have been more interesting than newspaper clippings and police ledgers can convey.
August 10, 2021
Well written, easy to read, short.
January 7, 2022
History of Victoria’s Red Light district.
August 26, 2023
Very interesting read about a small town with a big history!
November 18, 2023
Wonderful collection of tantalizing snippets.
dnf
December 6, 2024It was so dry. With a TBR list honestly 1000+ books long I couldn’t be bothered to force myself through anymore
January 15, 2024
Prompt - "Book you meant to read last year"
February 19, 2022
Loved learning about the context that created Victoria’s red light district and the women who were the faces of this profession and era. Had to call upon my history student skills to get through, as it reads quite academically. Fascinating subject and biographies, but just not presented in the most fascinating way. HUGE amount of gratitude to Linda J. Eversole’s work as a historian and advocate for the people who have always lived on these lands, have settled here, or have found their way to Victoria and made the most of what life handed them. Awe-inspiring and important work.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews