“Ward successfully provides a legal and legislative context to texts that both shaped and reflected the Victorian psyche...this book would be an excellent addition to an academic library as it has broad appeal to those studying law, literature, history, and gender studies.” – Alexia Loumankis,
Canadian Law Library Review
“...Ward's book provides law students and scholars alike not only with an interesting exploration of mid-Victorian fiction and legal reform, but also an insight into how literature may be used to challenge existing scripts and engender alternative ways of viewing and thinking about the law's attempt to regulate female sexuality.” – Anna Carline,
Legal Studies
“Through the interweaving of issues of law, violence, sex, criminality and misogyny, Ward produces a book 'about' much more than a nation's salaciousness.” – Sophie Franklin,
LSE Review of Books
