The Sewing Girl’s Tale is the true story of Lana’s Sawyer and her sexual assault in 1793. This case is truly heartbreaking but it is a story of determination and making sure that justice is served in a time where justice mainly served white rich men.

Lanah’s story could have been much worse if it wasn’t for the support of her family during such a constricting time for women of all classes.

The telling of Lanah’s story reads very smoothly and is so informative of rape and sexual assault cases of this time. It also it a super comprehensive retelling of the trial events and after the trial.

Loved this book! A fascinating blend of facts and the fictionalized story of Lanah Sawyer and her pursuit of justice following a violent by the rake and womanizer Harry Bedlow. The author provides a deep dive into the life and times of Lanah and Harry and an indepth look at the trials that followed their encounter. The book explores the changing customs and norms of post war America and the role of Lanah's suit against a powerful family. Well worth reading. I enjoyed every minute of it.

This is a rare gem and historical account of the first American rape case that occurred in NYC while major changes were taking place in 1793.

Lanah Sawyer was a 17-year-old sewing girl trying to make her way down a busy street when a Frenchman started to flirt with her. She was unescorted. A 26-year-old gentleman, Harry Bedlow, close by noticed this awkward moment and quickly offered protection by walking her home. He told her his name was Lawyer Smith (the first lie). She enjoyed his company and felt like she could trust Bedlow. She had secret dreams that he could like her, a poor working girl. Her neighbor saw this man at her family home and warned Lanah about his reputation. However, she wanted to believe that he was not a rake -- a term for elite sexual predators.

After some persuasion, she agreed a few days later to go with him on a walk to the park where they enjoyed a very special treat: ice cream. She noticed it was late; she lost track of time. He said he would walk her home except he had other plans and took her to a brothel where she was aggressively raped. Overnight, both of their lives changed. Lanah felt "shame, anger, violation, regret, disappointment and self-doubt." Many girls from these cases ended up pregnant. Many were instantly kicked out of their homes. No doubt, she was filled with great fear of rejection. Her stepfather had a temper.

What's unique about this true account was the way the author was able to weave in interesting parts of history while he was addressing the rape case with Lanah Sawyer giving the reader a realistic image of the times. There was an impressive amount of research that went into this book. It showed the great divide between the rich and poor. Anyone that loves to go deep into the past would absolutely enjoy reading about this part of history. It's a discussion piece about what has changed - and what hasn't. At the end, the author provides readers with a summary of the research process: scanning newspapers, maps, surveys, tax records and reading diaries, letters, novels and wills. He added a directory of abbreviations and hundreds of footnotes for complete accuracy. Lanah Sawyer's painful experience will not be forgotten.

My thanks to John Wood Sweet, Henry Holt and Company and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with the expected release date of July 19, 2022.

A riveting tragic and true account of a wonderfully brave woman who sought to get justice for a great wrong. The author does a very thorough job of researching and telling her story without the reader feeling anything but the courage it took for her to proceed. A story that needs to be told. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Brief Summary: This historical narrative is a riveting and exhaustive account of the 17 year old working class sewing girl Lanah Sawyer’s rape trial and the aftermath of her resiliency during the 18th century. She was up against a rich and upper class “gentleman” in an era when, although rape was a capital crime in which a guilty verdict meant hanging, men were not easily held accountable and women were not represented in the judicial or political system.

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Although this is a dark piece of history, it is an important one, and once I started reading about Lanah’s story I could not put it down. As a female in the 21st century, I cannot imagine the kind of strength and courage Lenah and her family endured in order to seek justice and preserve her and her family’s honor (as was very important in that time). John Sweet takes you back to every part of the story in detail from all angles and it is clear that he really did his research. Not only did he tell the story of the trial and aftermath academically, but he also sympathized with Lanah and described what she may have been feeling or thinking. I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed reading this narrative and learning about this historical event and the short term as well as long term effects the trial has had on the community and how it has influenced sexual assault cases and addresses inequality.

Definitely recommend!!!!