Personal Reminiscences of a Great Crusade

Abstract

Josephine Butler (1828–1906) was a prominent English feminist who was best known for her controversial campaigns concerning the welfare and civil rights of prostitutes. In 1869 she became the leader of the movement to limit the extension of the Contagious Diseases Acts, and was instrumental in having the Acts repealed in 1886. She later became involved in campaigns to stop child trafficking and child prostitution, which led to the age of consent being raised to 16 from 13 in 1885. This volume, first published in 1893, contains Butler's memoirs of her many campaigns. Focusing on the years 1869–1880, Butler explains the political background to the Contagious Diseases Acts, describes the moral and political opposition to the legislation, explores the ideology of the repeal campaign and describes her role. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=butljo