She Wrote the Songs

A collective biography of the forgotten female hit-makers of the Victorian parlour.

Parlour songs were the pop hits of the Victorian era – and some of the biggest hit-makers of the day were women. Barred from positions in universities, cathedrals and orchestras, this intimate, home-based musical genre was their only outlet. Sadly, their extraordinary contribution has largely been forgotten, overlooked by historians and marginalised in the timeline of music.

Now, British-Canadian singer Patricia Hammond is putting the record – or, rather, the sheet music – straight, telling tuneful tales of political reform, personal empowerment and the unique role women played in a fascinating period of British musical history.

A companion CD is available here, featuring the author performing songs from the book. You can hear an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, here, from 11 min 25 secs in.