Bringing Down the Colonel

In Bringing Down the Colonel, journalist Patricia Miller explores the life of Madeline Pollard, a nineteenth-century advocate for women's rights who challenged societal norms after a lengthy affair with politician Colonel Breckinridge left her deemed "ruined." When Breckinridge broke off his engagement to Pollard, she took him to court for breach of promise, sparking a public trial that highlighted the hypocrisy surrounding women's sexuality. Through a treasure trove of historical documents, the narrative reveals Pollard's courageous stand against the unequal moral judgments of her time, drawing parallels to contemporary issues of sexual exploitation.