Wonderfully gritty historical novel, sparing the reader no details about chamberpots, 18th century abortions and treatments for the clap. Slammerkin is based on sketchy reports of a Mary Saunders, a 16- or 17-year-old maid who was hanged or burned or both in late 18th century England for murdering her mistress with a meat cleaver. I confess, I didn't know that when I started and I'm glad, because the story pulled me right along without me knowing where it was going.

Coincidentally, Slammerkin is the second book I've read in two months that features an English prostitute as a main character (Glen Duncan's Hope was the other). A third is high on my to-read list: The Crimson Petal and the White, by Michel Faber.