S5E9: Take the Rake to Court: The 1793 Sewing Girl Rape Case with John Wood Sweet
Podcast: In Walks a WomanPublished On: Fri May 15 2026
Description: Please note that this episode deals with a historical account of sexual assault.Spoiler note: there are a couple of spoilers about the historical events involved, but even if you are aware of the outcome of this case, Sweet's TELLING of the story and the context he uncovers and explains is fascinating and so, so worth your time.If you pick up a copy of John Wood Sweet’s 2022 study, The Sewing Girl’s Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America, you will see award stamps for not one, not two, but SIX awards bestowed up this absorbing masterpiece of narrative history. We did not know about the Sewing Girl’s Tale when we planned our Fallen Women season, but when we came across it, we knew we had to include it because it is a thrilling read. Add to the joy of reading it that the stars aligned for us to interview John Wood Sweet himself. Join Sonja and Vanessa as Sweet explains why this trial could only have happened in the 1790s, why it was the first rape case to be covered in newspapers, and how New York rippled in reaction to the verdict. To say that Sweet researched deeply to create this work would be an understatement, and when you consider it’s page-turning quality, it really is a must read for anyone who loves history, finding women otherwise lost to history, and seeing a shift in public sentiment towards the assumption that women are to blame for their own undoing. Along the way, Sonja nerds out about New York, and Vanessa fangirls on five paragraphs about a piece of jewelry.
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