"Kaufmann creates a vivid, complex picture of how deeply Caribbean slavery and its profits were enmeshed in British society, with cameos from figures like Jane Austen and Lord Byron. Heiresses consistently draws the reader’s attention back to the enslaved people as they resisted, rebelled, and endeavored to build better lives within a bitterly unjust system. Unflinching yet compassionate, this book will appeal to readers aiming to deepen their understanding of the British Empire and the history of slavery." —Booklist

“This robust chronicle excavates the lives of nine female British enslavers. These female enslavers were just as callous as their male counterparts, Kaufmann diligently shows. Her research is impressive; she frequently leaves her subjects behind in their mansions to dive into the history of slavery in the West Indies, and spends ample time delineating the stories of enslaved people and their relationships to these heiresses. Serious students of history will learn much.” ― Publishers Weekly

"Kaufmann provides a compelling account of the lives of nine heiresses. Kaufmann tracks not only the heiresses’ lives but also the lives of the enslaved people they owned, how their plantations traded hands, and their influences on Caribbean enslavement culture. She brings life to each story by crafting a linear narrative with rich background information. A comprehensive and gripping examination of the fortunes, lives, and influences of nine women within the Caribbean enslavement economy." ― Library Journal

“A fresh perspective on Britain’s involvement in slavery through the lives of nine 18th-century women who accrued large fortunes in the empire’s Caribbean colonies and, by virtue of their wealth, became sought-after wives by men of all classes. A meticulously researched history.” ― Kirkus Reviews