Johanna Nicholls
ISBN: 9781922052698 (pbk)
9781922052711 (e-book
Simon & Schuster (Australia) 2014
Set in the 1827-32 penal colonies of NSW and Moreton Bay, The Lace Balcony interweaves fictional characters with historical figures. A young woman determines to control her destiny. Marriage offers women social acceptance but curtails legal rights to property, fortune, custody of children. As a courtesan she can choose her lovers and manipulate powerful men. A story of obsessive love, the price of freedom – and a real-life murder mystery.