Reading Abandoned Women while travelling in Tasmania brought its contents to life. Lucy Frost has done an excellent job of gathering the historical details she could track down and weaving them into a readable account.

The result is a fascinating teaser, as the women’s lives are accessible only through legal documents and the small additions some descendants could offer.

Despite the limitations, a vivid picture emerges of what led to the women’s transportation and what happened to at least some of them on and after being sent to Van Demen’s Land.