Overview

A woman who braved public disgrace to expose a brutal marriage. 1838, England: When eighteen-year-old heiress Frances Dickinson impulsively marries Lieutenant John Geils, she soon discovers there is much about her husband she did not know. A cruel and violent man, John keeps Frances in isolation on his family's estate in Scotland, while spending her fortune and preying upon their maids. Frances yearns to break free from her marriage but the law is not on her side. Only when John's abuse escalates can she set in motion a daring plan to secure her freedom. A story of gaslighting, control and one woman's fight, The Defiance of Frances Dickinson reveals the truth behind one of the most sensational divorce trials of the nineteenth century.

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9781923135031

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Reviews

'Highly recommended'. - Good Reading 'Parkins' subject is a fascinating figure, and the insight into domestic violence and coercive control remains relevant'. - The Age/The Sydney Morning Herald

'Highly recommended'. - Good Reading 'Parkins' subject is a fascinating figure, and the insight into domestic violence and coercive control remains relevant'. - The Age/The Sydney Morning Herald 'The Defiance of Frances Dickinson is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand ‘why didn’t she leave sooner’ and for demonstrating why advocacy for changes to domestic violence laws and support systems is as vital as ever.' * <B>ArtsHub</B> *

Author Information

Wendy Parkins was born in Sydney and grew up on the north coast of New South Wales, in Gumbaynggirr country. After studying at the University of Sydney, she began her academic career in Perth before going on to positions at universities in New Zealand and the UK, where she was Professor of Victorian Literature at the University of Kent. Her memoir, Every Morning, So Far, I'm Alive, was published in 2019. She lives in ?tepoti/Dunedin.

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