Grand Horizontal: The Erotic Memoirs of a Passionate Lady

by Cora Pearl, William Blatchford (Editor)

The intimate memoirs and erotic adventures of Cora Pearl, one of the most famous and wealthiest courtesans of nineteenth-century Paris

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History

186 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1983

Reviews

[Stargazer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I love it - she's my great-great-great-great aunt, what a woman! If you like it, read WH Holden's 'The Pearl From Plymouth', which has more details on Cora's fascinating life. It is rumoured that she put this together under duress when she was ill. Note that this is the official memoirs first published in France in the 1880s and then translated to English as 'The Memoirs of Cora Pearl: The English Beauty of the French Empire,' and was a pretty chaste account of her life. It is said that she was paid to omit parts by wealthy lovers who did not want to be 'outed' in print.

(The 1983 book 'Grand Horizontal:The Erotic Memoirs of a Passionate Lady' is 'edited' by W. Blatchford, and is somewhat a mystery in that he says it was first issued in 1890, but in actuality, although it is based on Cora's memoirs, he actually speaks in her voice without stating that he has done so, and as a result many read his book without knowing it is a work of fiction based on her actual memoirs. When I contacted the 'editor' who is an astrologer called Derek Parker,he was reluctant to say much on the subject.)

Unfortunately, the book begins with a lie - the falsified birth certificate (belonging her younger sister)which shaves 5 years off her age, and some of the early family life is not true - her father did not die when she was 5. He was alive and well and living a fairly- well documented life in America, due to his fame as a composer, and through his service in the Civil War.(credit to Blatchford for noting the false birth certificate though.)

[Stargazer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I love it - she's my great-great-great-great aunt, what a woman! If you like it, read WH Holden's 'The Pearl From Plymouth', which has more details on Cora's fascinating life. It is rumoured that she put this together under duress when she was ill. Note that this is NOT the official memoirs first published in France in the 1880s and then translated to English as 'The Memoirs of Cora Pearl: The English Beauty of the French Empire,' and was a pretty chaste account of her life. It is said that she was paid to omit parts by wealthy lovers who did not want to be 'outed' in print.

This 1983 book 'Grand Horizontal:The Erotic Memoirs of a Passionate Lady' is 'edited' by W. Blatchford, and is somewhat a mystery in that he says it was first issued in 1890, but in actuality, although it is based on Cora's memoirs, he actually speaks in her voice without stating that he has done so, and as a result many read his book without knowing it is a work of fiction based on her actual memoirs. When I contacted the 'editor' who is an astrologer called Derek Parker,he was reluctant to say much on the subject.

Credit to Blatchford for noting the false birth certificate - the falsified birth certificate (belonging her younger sister)which shaves 5 years off her age, and some of the early family life is not true - for instance,her father did not die when she was 5. He was alive and well and living a fairly- well documented life in America, due to his fame as a composer, and through his service in the Civil War.

[Frederick Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great,Great Book... because She wrote it, but wrote it for financial reasons, ageing and very poor health and close to death. I am Cora Pearl's (Emma Elizabeth Crouch) great grandnephew Frederick William Nicholls Crouch her father (same name as mine) was a fluid song writer incl. "Kathleen Mavourneen" title song of the movie "Gettysburg". Please read Cora's book and add "The Pearl of Plymouth" an accurate read and read my comments added today. Most inaccurate info on her was perpetuated by authors copying previous wrongs such as born 1835 not 1842 as she said to make herself younger and she did not die in squalid but meager. There is much to share if interested. fcrouch@yahoo.com

[Evadomier · Rating 2 out of 5]

me lo he terminado por terminar y por el interés historico. Realmente no me ha emganchado y no recuerdo que me hayan importado demasiado ninguno de los personajes/personas.

[Don Brynelsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a memoir reputedly written by Cora Pearl, a famous courtesan, (High priced call girl), of the mid Victorian era, and recounts her sexual adventures starting when she was a girl. Along the way she sleeps with a number of prominent men including the future King Edward VII, and even seduces a 15 year old boy when she discovers him swimming in a river and strips off her clothes to join him. Not at all pornographic like some of the novels of the period, it tells the story of an infamous woman who made her fortune with the delights of her body.

[Corrina Rimato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

Although poorly edited , I found this book lighthearted & a joy to read . Historical , as well as sexual , details abound to bring the readers mind along on Coras exploits . By the books end , my heart was with this unusual yet pleasant lady .

[Samuel Odhiambo · Rating 5 out of 5]

interested

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting . . . Especially liked her view on nurse patient relations.