Bad Girls

In Bad Girls, Caitlin Davies uncovers the history of Holloway Prison, Britain’s most famous women’s jail, through the stories of inmates, reformers, and activists. Davies blends archival research with vivid storytelling to reveal the social and political forces that shaped the institution. She highlights how gendered expectations and punitive legislation disproportionately targeted vulnerable women. The book challenges stereotypes of female criminality and exposes systemic failures in justice and welfare. Davies’s narrative is rich, empathetic, and deeply engaging — a compelling exploration of punishment, resistance, and social change.