This book isn't a novel with characters and a plot. It's a direct, passionate essay. Séverine lays out her case for why women should have the legal and social right to abortion. She writes from the perspective of late 1800s France, describing the desperate situations women faced—poverty, abandonment, societal shame—and the dangerous, often deadly "back-alley" alternatives they were forced to seek when denied safe, legal options. She frames it not just as a medical issue, but as a fundamental question of freedom, justice, and a woman's sovereignty over her own future.

Why You Should Read It

What blew me away was Séverine's voice. She doesn't write like a distant academic; she writes with urgency and anger you can feel. She names the hypocrisy of a society that punished women for circumstances often beyond their control. Reading her words, you get a raw, unfiltered look at the feminist movement of that era. It's a stark reminder that the fight for bodily autonomy has deep, painful roots. It connects directly to modern conversations in a way that feels almost shocking.

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for anyone interested in women's history, social justice, or the power of political writing. It's perfect for readers who want to understand the long arc of reproductive rights, not just the headlines of today. It's short enough to read in one sitting, but its arguments will stick with you for much longer. Be prepared—it's not an easy, comforting read, but it's an important and incredibly resonant one.