Elaine Farrell is Senior Lecturer in History at Queen's University Belfast where her research focuses on gender, crime and punishment, and social relations. She is the author of A Most Diabolical Deed: Infanticide and Irish Society, 1850-1900 (2013) which was awarded the National University of Ireland Publication Prize in 2015.

'The first comprehensive analysis of incarcerated women in Irish history, this book is nothing short of path breaking. Persuasive, innovative, and convincing, Farrell's book integrates the history of institutions in Ireland - a current fascination of many - with astute analyses of gender and sexuality, 'deviance' and criminality, and bodies and emotions. In the hands of this skilful historian, the daily struggles and triumphs of ordinary if 'outcast' women in the past come alive, providing essential context for discussions of gender in Irish life today.' Cara Delay, College of Charleston

• List of figures and tables; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction: 'Another generation of jail-birds'; 1. 'A powerful engine in reforming the prisoner': the prison framework and the convict body and mind; 2. 'A strange medley of character do these prisoners' friends present': family ties; 3. 'Even in prison, they have those extreme friendships, antipathies, and jealousies': convict relationships; 4. 'At first she refused to say how she got it': networks of acquisition; 5. 'I will be very desolate leaving prison': liberation; Conclusion: 'I think of the time that you and myself ust [used] to be to gether'; Bibliography; Index.

Elaine Farrell is Senior Lecturer in History at Queen's University Belfast where her research focuses on gender, crime and punishment, and social relations. She is the author of A Most Diabolical Deed: Infanticide and Irish Society, 1850-1900 (2013) which was awarded the National University of Ireland Publication Prize in 2015.

'The first comprehensive analysis of incarcerated women in Irish history, this book is nothing short of path breaking. Persuasive, innovative, and convincing, Farrell's book integrates the history of institutions in Ireland - a current fascination of many - with astute analyses of gender and sexuality, 'deviance' and criminality, and bodies and emotions. In the hands of this skilful historian, the daily struggles and triumphs of ordinary if 'outcast' women in the past come alive, providing essential context for discussions of gender in Irish life today.' Cara Delay, College of Charleston

• List of figures and tables; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction: 'Another generation of jail-birds'; 1. 'A powerful engine in reforming the prisoner': the prison framework and the convict body and mind; 2. 'A strange medley of character do these prisoners' friends present': family ties; 3. 'Even in prison, they have those extreme friendships, antipathies, and jealousies': convict relationships; 4. 'At first she refused to say how she got it': networks of acquisition; 5. 'I will be very desolate leaving prison': liberation; Conclusion: 'I think of the time that you and myself ust [used] to be to gether'; Bibliography; Index.

Elaine Farrell is Senior Lecturer in History at Queen's University Belfast where her research focuses on gender, crime and punishment, and social relations. She is the author of A Most Diabolical Deed: Infanticide and Irish Society, 1850-1900 (2013) which was awarded the National University of Ireland Publication Prize in 2015.

'The first comprehensive analysis of incarcerated women in Irish history, this book is nothing short of path breaking. Persuasive, innovative, and convincing, Farrell's book integrates the history of institutions in Ireland - a current fascination of many - with astute analyses of gender and sexuality, 'deviance' and criminality, and bodies and emotions. In the hands of this skilful historian, the daily struggles and triumphs of ordinary if 'outcast' women in the past come alive, providing essential context for discussions of gender in Irish life today.' Cara Delay, College of Charleston

• List of figures and tables; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction: 'Another generation of jail-birds'; 1. 'A powerful engine in reforming the prisoner': the prison framework and the convict body and mind; 2. 'A strange medley of character do these prisoners' friends present': family ties; 3. 'Even in prison, they have those extreme friendships, antipathies, and jealousies': convict relationships; 4. 'At first she refused to say how she got it': networks of acquisition; 5. 'I will be very desolate leaving prison': liberation; Conclusion: 'I think of the time that you and myself ust [used] to be to gether'; Bibliography; Index.