The Ambitions of Jane Franklin

The Ambitions of Jane Franklin is the fascinating story of a woman who defied every expectation of her time. In an age when women were expected to stay home, Jane became one of the most widely travelled and influential figures of the 19th century. Alison Alexander traces Jane’s extraordinary life – from her London childhood to her years in colonial Tasmania, where she founded societies, adopted an Aboriginal girl, and sent a kangaroo to Queen Victoria. When her husband, Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin, disappeared, she led a relentless campaign to defend his name and turn him into a national hero. Driven, curious, and endlessly determined, Jane Franklin was a true trailblazer – and The Ambitions of Jane Franklin brings her remarkable legacy vividly to life.