Explosive true crime that shatters myths about justice in early America. John Wood Sweet's award-winning account of Lanah Sawyer—a 17-year-old seamstress who dared accuse a powerful gentleman of rape in 1793 New York—exposes the brutal collision between class, power, and sexual violence. Featuring the landmark trial where six elite attorneys, possibly including Alexander Hamilton, fought to destroy her credibility, this hardcover reveals how the legal system weaponized shame against women seeking justice. A visceral exploration of consent, corruption, and one woman's courageous stand against a rigged system that echoes disturbingly into our present day.
