Tracy M. (tracymar) reviewed Harriette Wilson's Memoirs: The Greatest Courtesan of Her Age on + 408 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
What a marvelous read, this first person account of life as a celebrated courtesan in England during Georgian times and the Regency. Not merely a chronicling of events and people (both which are interesting!) Harriette lets you into her inner world, and all the emotional tangles of her family relationships and affairs.......and her struggle to survive as she ages, becomes desperate for money, and begins to lose her appeal. Since Harriette, who caused a stir when she published her memoirs, offered to keep the names of certain gentlemen out of her book if they paid her quite a bit of money, we don't learn about all her lovers, but we do get a few juicy tidbits, and a chance to get to know the inner workings of a fascinating and also infuriating notorious woman. Anyone interested in late 18th/early 19th century England and the life of courtesans will be enthralled.