Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue
The novel follows the tumultuous life of Mary Saunders, a young girl in 18th-century London who is driven by a desire for fine clothes and a better life. After a series of misfortunes, including being cast out by her family and falling into prostitution, Mary flees to Monmouth, where she finds work and a semblance of stability with a seamstress named Mrs. Jones. However, her yearning for freedom and luxury leads her down a dark path, culminating in a tragic and violent climax that underscores the harsh realities faced by women of her time.
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