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Kitty Fisher: The First Female Celebrity
‘Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it,
not a penny was there in it,
only ribbon round it.’
Generations of children have grown up knowing Kitty Fisher from the nursery rhyme, but who was she? Remembered as an eighteenth-century ‘celebrated’ courtesan and style icon, it is surprising to learn that Kitty’s career in the upper echelons of London’s sex industry was brief. For someone of her profession, Kitty had one great flaw: she fell in love too easily.
Kitty Fisher managed her public relations and controlled her image with care. In a time when women’s choices were limited, she navigated her way to fame and fortune. Hers was a life filled equally with happiness and tragedy, one which left such an impact that the fascinating Kitty Fisher’s name still resonates today. She was the Georgian era’s most famous – and infamous – celebrity.
This is more than just a biography of Kitty Fisher’s short, scandalous and action-packed life. It is also a social history of the period looking not just at Kitty but also the women who were her contemporaries, as well as the men who were drawn to their sides… and into their beds. In this meticulously researched, lively and enjoyable book we discover the real woman at the heart of Kitty Fisher’s enduring myth and legend.
Kitty Fisher found it,
not a penny was there in it,
only ribbon round it.’
Generations of children have grown up knowing Kitty Fisher from the nursery rhyme, but who was she? Remembered as an eighteenth-century ‘celebrated’ courtesan and style icon, it is surprising to learn that Kitty’s career in the upper echelons of London’s sex industry was brief. For someone of her profession, Kitty had one great flaw: she fell in love too easily.
Kitty Fisher managed her public relations and controlled her image with care. In a time when women’s choices were limited, she navigated her way to fame and fortune. Hers was a life filled equally with happiness and tragedy, one which left such an impact that the fascinating Kitty Fisher’s name still resonates today. She was the Georgian era’s most famous – and infamous – celebrity.
This is more than just a biography of Kitty Fisher’s short, scandalous and action-packed life. It is also a social history of the period looking not just at Kitty but also the women who were her contemporaries, as well as the men who were drawn to their sides… and into their beds. In this meticulously researched, lively and enjoyable book we discover the real woman at the heart of Kitty Fisher’s enduring myth and legend.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
192 pages, Hardcover
Published October 30, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 17, 2022
Less a look at the idea of celebrity, although Kitty certainly was one, but rather a fascinating look at the means one woman took to secure her future in Georgian England. Kitty made the best choices of a poor selection and was constantly balancing her fame and her respectability. She managed her own celebrity by who she had affairs with, how she was seen in public and with whom, who painted her portraits and how, and she leveraged her celebrity to maintain herself.
Especially horrifying to us today was when, unable to secure one protector to keep her, she agreed to be in the joint keeping of five men who pooled their gambling winnings to give her an allowance and the right to her bed. And sadly, for all her notoriety, men wanted to be seen with her but still saw her as not the sort of woman to marry.
It was hard to know Kitty as a person since she left no letters or diaries, and everything comes from second hand accounts, newspaper articles, gossip columns, satires, and conjecture. We never learned why someone who managed her image so well also never saved for her future. A lot of the look at Kitty’s short life came through the lens of other courtesans of the era and the rhymes and innuendo that have been passed down.
Kitty’s life as a courtesan was a precarious one and, as all celebrities, her fame and power were fleeting. This is a well-researched look at life as a courtesan and in the public eye and might be best read by someone who has a little familiarity with the Georgian era. This makes me want to read this author’s other works about this time period.
3.5 stars I received an arc from NetGalley
Especially horrifying to us today was when, unable to secure one protector to keep her, she agreed to be in the joint keeping of five men who pooled their gambling winnings to give her an allowance and the right to her bed. And sadly, for all her notoriety, men wanted to be seen with her but still saw her as not the sort of woman to marry.
It was hard to know Kitty as a person since she left no letters or diaries, and everything comes from second hand accounts, newspaper articles, gossip columns, satires, and conjecture. We never learned why someone who managed her image so well also never saved for her future. A lot of the look at Kitty’s short life came through the lens of other courtesans of the era and the rhymes and innuendo that have been passed down.
Kitty’s life as a courtesan was a precarious one and, as all celebrities, her fame and power were fleeting. This is a well-researched look at life as a courtesan and in the public eye and might be best read by someone who has a little familiarity with the Georgian era. This makes me want to read this author’s other works about this time period.
3.5 stars I received an arc from NetGalley
April 19, 2023
Whilst I’d never heard of Kitty Fisher, this book was an interesting and informative read. Although most of the book focused on Kitty’s life as a courtesan and her desirability, I like how Major emphasised Kitty’s intelligence and how she played on male desire to suit her own wants and needs. Even though many men saw her as a short term prize to be won, Kitty was aware of what men were after and would try to get as much out of them as possible (notable in how her persistence gained her an expensive harp from Lord Sandwich). Kitty was clearly a woman who knew how to use her sexuality to her advantage.
One thing I really enjoyed reading about Kitty was the constant changing public perception of her. From being the muse of a collection of bawdy literature to becoming a fashion icon known for the Kitty Fisher Bonnet, Kitty clearly had a lot of intelligence and was able to use her quick wit to manipulate narratives to her advantage (such as how she manipulated the story of her falling off a horse to suit her favourably). The amount of literature dedicated to her at the time is rather fascinating for a courtesan; whilst the majority of this was negative and discussed her as no more than a whore, the fact she became such a celebrity and was often discussed in satirical pamphlets (such as The Meretriciad) shows how influential she was at the time and the interest that surrounded her.
Overall, a great and well-researched book that is perfect for any lover of women’s history.
One thing I really enjoyed reading about Kitty was the constant changing public perception of her. From being the muse of a collection of bawdy literature to becoming a fashion icon known for the Kitty Fisher Bonnet, Kitty clearly had a lot of intelligence and was able to use her quick wit to manipulate narratives to her advantage (such as how she manipulated the story of her falling off a horse to suit her favourably). The amount of literature dedicated to her at the time is rather fascinating for a courtesan; whilst the majority of this was negative and discussed her as no more than a whore, the fact she became such a celebrity and was often discussed in satirical pamphlets (such as The Meretriciad) shows how influential she was at the time and the interest that surrounded her.
Overall, a great and well-researched book that is perfect for any lover of women’s history.
December 22, 2022
I did find this interesting and easy to read. It tells the story of Kitty Fisher, one of the many courtesans who illuminated Georgian England. However, I feel it tells more about the the era than it does about Miss Fisher. And I was really looking forward to hearing more about Kitty.
October 6, 2022
If Major’s book, Kitty Fisher: The First Female Celebrity was turned into a reality television series
depicting the lascivious 18th century — and if time travel could be achieved — Kitty Fisher would have a hit show called, “Keeping up with Kitty.” It would include an extended cast of rival courtesans and other infamous women on Harris’s famous list of loose and exciting women about London. Video clips of Kitty’s horsing accident in the Mall would have broken the internet, shut TikTok down, gone viral.
The World of Kitty Fisher and women like her, courtesans of Britain’s aristocrats and wealthy merchants, with its alcoholic rivers of champagne and deep, rich wine, gluttonous helpings of animal roasts, buckets of gravies, mountains of puddings, and voluptuous flesh in resplendent velvets and silks far outshines the grotesque excesses of our modern times. The ratings of Housewives of Who-Cares-Where and the Bros of Spoilt-Rich-Baby-Daddies would pale to a grey in comparison to a show about Kitty Fisher and her world.
But alas! No such reality shows exists and time travel is still science fiction. Major’s book, Kitty Fisher: The First Female Celebrity, however, does give us a tantalizing glimpse into what might appear on the screen. In nine short chapters — this history book is succinct at 145 pages (minus notes, index, and bibliography) — Major gives the reader a fleshy, tangible sense of the English sex-fueled 18th Century. The first few chapters give us an overview of Kitty Fisher’s world and her personal history. These chapters also chronicle Fisher’s rise to fame and the path to her profession. Chapter 4 focuses on one of the most enduring events of her career, her horse accident and discusses the effect of publicity on her life and career. Chapter 5 gives the reader a closer view into the business aspects of courtesan-ship. In a way, we can see clear connections between the influencers of today and the women of this world. The modes in which women like Kitty Fisher monetized themselves is the subject of chapters four and fives. Chapters 6 and 7 examine how Kitty and other courtesans or kept women segued into comfortable and profitable existences for the long term. Marriage, servitude, and dismissal were all possible endings to these women’s careers; how did women establish security for themselves? The final two chapters discuss what happened after Kitty Fisher left the stage (and this world) and how she became imbued with a legendary status. Kitty Fisher follows the physical lifetime and historical trajectory of the eponymous subject.
While Kitty Fisher is the central heroine of this prosopography, it includes the tales of many other women with the same vocation and the men who served them, worshipped them, paid for them, kept them, maligned them and took advantage of them. Kitty Fisher allows the reader to envision the full landscape of sex work in this era, from those — like Fisher — who proved the exception, to those who proved the rule and have fallen into anonymity.
Their histories and careers, whether illustrious or tragic, forgettable or infamous, reveal an aspect of historical womanhood that is rarely illuminated. The women of Kitty Fisher are far from piteous. Major reveals to us how human they could be, as emotional, youthful, desirous beings. She also shows us how ruthless and powerful they were. These women were not the mere playthings of men, they were businesswomen, shrewd, and canny, educated and intelligent, cognizant of their own agency and unafraid to use it. Of course, patriarchy and its constraints on women were tight around these women, but they learnt how to use the tools and avenues open to them to their own ends. Two of Kitty Fisher’s rivals rose above the others of their profession to marry into the aristocracy.
The book also shows the reader the less glamorous outcomes. Some women died in penury, in debt, in the most awful circumstances. Many women faded away into nothingness, used and abused, broken. In this the book is well-balanced, giving the reader a wide view of the landscape.
As Kitty Fisher is a historical biography written for a general audience and not an academic one, it provides little perspective on the wider social, political, imperial, and economic matters of the era. It does not delve into historiography. This is a public-facing cultural history and is more narrowly focused on the individuals and the immediate milieu of their world. The effect makes for pleasurable reading; Kitty Fisher is very accessible in terms of language and prose, their (hi)stories unfold without requiring the reader to have much pre-existing historical knowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
depicting the lascivious 18th century — and if time travel could be achieved — Kitty Fisher would have a hit show called, “Keeping up with Kitty.” It would include an extended cast of rival courtesans and other infamous women on Harris’s famous list of loose and exciting women about London. Video clips of Kitty’s horsing accident in the Mall would have broken the internet, shut TikTok down, gone viral.
The World of Kitty Fisher and women like her, courtesans of Britain’s aristocrats and wealthy merchants, with its alcoholic rivers of champagne and deep, rich wine, gluttonous helpings of animal roasts, buckets of gravies, mountains of puddings, and voluptuous flesh in resplendent velvets and silks far outshines the grotesque excesses of our modern times. The ratings of Housewives of Who-Cares-Where and the Bros of Spoilt-Rich-Baby-Daddies would pale to a grey in comparison to a show about Kitty Fisher and her world.
But alas! No such reality shows exists and time travel is still science fiction. Major’s book, Kitty Fisher: The First Female Celebrity, however, does give us a tantalizing glimpse into what might appear on the screen. In nine short chapters — this history book is succinct at 145 pages (minus notes, index, and bibliography) — Major gives the reader a fleshy, tangible sense of the English sex-fueled 18th Century. The first few chapters give us an overview of Kitty Fisher’s world and her personal history. These chapters also chronicle Fisher’s rise to fame and the path to her profession. Chapter 4 focuses on one of the most enduring events of her career, her horse accident and discusses the effect of publicity on her life and career. Chapter 5 gives the reader a closer view into the business aspects of courtesan-ship. In a way, we can see clear connections between the influencers of today and the women of this world. The modes in which women like Kitty Fisher monetized themselves is the subject of chapters four and fives. Chapters 6 and 7 examine how Kitty and other courtesans or kept women segued into comfortable and profitable existences for the long term. Marriage, servitude, and dismissal were all possible endings to these women’s careers; how did women establish security for themselves? The final two chapters discuss what happened after Kitty Fisher left the stage (and this world) and how she became imbued with a legendary status. Kitty Fisher follows the physical lifetime and historical trajectory of the eponymous subject.
While Kitty Fisher is the central heroine of this prosopography, it includes the tales of many other women with the same vocation and the men who served them, worshipped them, paid for them, kept them, maligned them and took advantage of them. Kitty Fisher allows the reader to envision the full landscape of sex work in this era, from those — like Fisher — who proved the exception, to those who proved the rule and have fallen into anonymity.
Their histories and careers, whether illustrious or tragic, forgettable or infamous, reveal an aspect of historical womanhood that is rarely illuminated. The women of Kitty Fisher are far from piteous. Major reveals to us how human they could be, as emotional, youthful, desirous beings. She also shows us how ruthless and powerful they were. These women were not the mere playthings of men, they were businesswomen, shrewd, and canny, educated and intelligent, cognizant of their own agency and unafraid to use it. Of course, patriarchy and its constraints on women were tight around these women, but they learnt how to use the tools and avenues open to them to their own ends. Two of Kitty Fisher’s rivals rose above the others of their profession to marry into the aristocracy.
The book also shows the reader the less glamorous outcomes. Some women died in penury, in debt, in the most awful circumstances. Many women faded away into nothingness, used and abused, broken. In this the book is well-balanced, giving the reader a wide view of the landscape.
As Kitty Fisher is a historical biography written for a general audience and not an academic one, it provides little perspective on the wider social, political, imperial, and economic matters of the era. It does not delve into historiography. This is a public-facing cultural history and is more narrowly focused on the individuals and the immediate milieu of their world. The effect makes for pleasurable reading; Kitty Fisher is very accessible in terms of language and prose, their (hi)stories unfold without requiring the reader to have much pre-existing historical knowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
April 19, 2023
Kitty Fisher was a celebrated courtesan from the eighteenth century, immortalised in the nursery rhyme Lucy Locket, with the satirical line ‘Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it, not a penny was there in it, only ribbon round it.’ . In this book, historian Joanne Major looks beyond the stories of Kitty's notoriety, teasing out well researched details about her life to paint a nuanced picture of the woman behind the high class sex worker reputation.
Kitty was born Catherine Maria Fischer in June 1741 into a respectable family, and was doted upon by her German immigrant, silver chaser father. She was brought up to aspire to finer things, and her personal charms were enhanced by the education her parents deemed essential for her future success. By the age of fifteen, Kitty was working as a milliner - a trade which many looked upon as a thinly veiled cover for prostitution, but although she would have been well aware of the life of the Covent Garden Ladies who plied their trade near her home, catching a wealthy husband was the aim.
Kitty's head was turned by a handsome prospect, and she fell in love with Anthony Martin, an officer in the Coldstream Guards. Martin pursuaded Kitty away from the safety of her family home, but the promised marriage failed to materialise, although Kitty adopted the title Mrs Martin (which she often used in the years that followed). When she was eventually abandoned, she was smart enough to realise that if she was to be consigned to the ranks of 'fallen women' then it would be on her own terms - among the upper echelons of London society.
Major goes on to detail Kitty's career as a highly prized courtesan, exploring how she navigated her way through the pitfalls of her profession to surround herself with the trappings of wealth. Major paints a picture of a young woman who knew exactly how to exploit the men who vied for her favour, and how to tightly control her image to maintain her allure, but she also takes great pains to show you that Kitty was also unlike many of the other women who lived the competitive life of the courtesan. The Kitty we got to know is a clever, cultured and complex woman, albeit with a fiery streak. Major shows that Kitty also had vulnerabilities, and how her desire to find true love turned her from the life she had embarked upon after only a few short years - even if her reputation lingered long after she had retired from the public gaze.
Much more than simply being the story of Kitty's tragically short life, this book delves deliciously into the social history of the age in which she lived too. Major brings in lashings of information about the society in which Kitty resided, including about the women who were her friends and rivals, both within the sex industry and among the wives and of her conquests. Major also takes a good hard look at the rakes and lotharios of the cream of society who thought nothing of paying Kitty and her compatriots for their favours - and of dropping them like hot cakes at the first sign of trouble, consigning them to an unknown fate.
Kitty leaps from the page as a fully formed character, and the tragedy of her life, and the lives of women like her, whose choices were limited in a world ruled by men, makes this a surprisingly emotional book to consume. The way Major contrasts and compares Kitty's life and times with what we think of as 'celebrity' in this modern age is intriguing too. I was particularly struck by the sections that detail Kitty's status as muse to the famous English painter Joshua Reynolds and his contemporaries. The information about how engravings were produced in huge numbers from paintings of Kitty to fulfil the demand for images of her amongst the masses; how scandalous stories about her (often fictional) antics were circulated in print; and how her style was slavishly emulated by those who wanted a little bit of her fame is fascinating. It is all so relatable for the modern age!
Kitty's life story would make an excellent drama series, and I devoured this engrossing book in a single sitting. It is so engaging, and is packed with historical detail. Highly recommended for those interested in the hidden lives of women in history.
Kitty was born Catherine Maria Fischer in June 1741 into a respectable family, and was doted upon by her German immigrant, silver chaser father. She was brought up to aspire to finer things, and her personal charms were enhanced by the education her parents deemed essential for her future success. By the age of fifteen, Kitty was working as a milliner - a trade which many looked upon as a thinly veiled cover for prostitution, but although she would have been well aware of the life of the Covent Garden Ladies who plied their trade near her home, catching a wealthy husband was the aim.
Kitty's head was turned by a handsome prospect, and she fell in love with Anthony Martin, an officer in the Coldstream Guards. Martin pursuaded Kitty away from the safety of her family home, but the promised marriage failed to materialise, although Kitty adopted the title Mrs Martin (which she often used in the years that followed). When she was eventually abandoned, she was smart enough to realise that if she was to be consigned to the ranks of 'fallen women' then it would be on her own terms - among the upper echelons of London society.
Major goes on to detail Kitty's career as a highly prized courtesan, exploring how she navigated her way through the pitfalls of her profession to surround herself with the trappings of wealth. Major paints a picture of a young woman who knew exactly how to exploit the men who vied for her favour, and how to tightly control her image to maintain her allure, but she also takes great pains to show you that Kitty was also unlike many of the other women who lived the competitive life of the courtesan. The Kitty we got to know is a clever, cultured and complex woman, albeit with a fiery streak. Major shows that Kitty also had vulnerabilities, and how her desire to find true love turned her from the life she had embarked upon after only a few short years - even if her reputation lingered long after she had retired from the public gaze.
Much more than simply being the story of Kitty's tragically short life, this book delves deliciously into the social history of the age in which she lived too. Major brings in lashings of information about the society in which Kitty resided, including about the women who were her friends and rivals, both within the sex industry and among the wives and of her conquests. Major also takes a good hard look at the rakes and lotharios of the cream of society who thought nothing of paying Kitty and her compatriots for their favours - and of dropping them like hot cakes at the first sign of trouble, consigning them to an unknown fate.
Kitty leaps from the page as a fully formed character, and the tragedy of her life, and the lives of women like her, whose choices were limited in a world ruled by men, makes this a surprisingly emotional book to consume. The way Major contrasts and compares Kitty's life and times with what we think of as 'celebrity' in this modern age is intriguing too. I was particularly struck by the sections that detail Kitty's status as muse to the famous English painter Joshua Reynolds and his contemporaries. The information about how engravings were produced in huge numbers from paintings of Kitty to fulfil the demand for images of her amongst the masses; how scandalous stories about her (often fictional) antics were circulated in print; and how her style was slavishly emulated by those who wanted a little bit of her fame is fascinating. It is all so relatable for the modern age!
Kitty's life story would make an excellent drama series, and I devoured this engrossing book in a single sitting. It is so engaging, and is packed with historical detail. Highly recommended for those interested in the hidden lives of women in history.
April 15, 2023
Wow but first let’s get to the little bit of blurb :
'Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it, not a penny was there in it, only ribbon round it. Generations of children have grown up knowing Kitty Fisher from the nursery rhyme, but who was she? Remembered as an eighteenth-century 'celebrated' courtesan and style icon, it is surprising to learn that Kitty's career in the upper echelons of London's sex industry was brief. For someone of her profession, Kitty had one great flaw: she fell in love too easily. Kitty Fisher managed her public relations and controlled her image with care. In a time when women's choices were limited, she navigated her way to fame and fortune. Hers was a life filled equally with happiness and tragedy, one which left such an impact that the fascinating Kitty Fisher's name still resonates today. She was the Georgian era's most famous - and infamous - celebrity.
It is also a social history of the period looking not just at Kitty but also the women who were her contemporaries, as well as the men who were drawn to their sides... and into their beds. In this meticulously researched, lively and enjoyable book we discover the real woman at the heart of Kitty Fisher's enduring myth and legend.’
I must confess I was bracing myself for a bit of a historical fact dump with this book, did the unthinkable and judged it on its cover.
I thought it would be dates and facts and nothing more but I was certainly wrong !
This was so much more than a biography! Kitty completely came back to life with this beautiful telling of her short, scandalous and action packed life.
I was completely captivated from the first page to last by this fascinating woman’s strength and perseverance in the face of so much adversity.
The author did an astounding job and I had to keep reminding myself that this was not a character but a real life person.
At times I wanted to weep for poor kitty and at other times I was cheering her on.
I couldn’t help but think how perfect this story would be if portrayed on tv or film. It’s perfect for a bridgerton style backdrop, or even moulin rouge!
It would not need to be added to if adapted at all . Her story is action packed and full of a rollercoaster of emotions throughout.
I feel kitty’s story is a tale that needs to be known and I really hope that this book gets the attention it deserves and that everyone knows the tale of Catherine Maria Fischer.
I can’t wait to read more from this talented author and I would like to thank them and pen and swords book for including me in this book tour and sending me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest and independent review.
'Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it, not a penny was there in it, only ribbon round it. Generations of children have grown up knowing Kitty Fisher from the nursery rhyme, but who was she? Remembered as an eighteenth-century 'celebrated' courtesan and style icon, it is surprising to learn that Kitty's career in the upper echelons of London's sex industry was brief. For someone of her profession, Kitty had one great flaw: she fell in love too easily. Kitty Fisher managed her public relations and controlled her image with care. In a time when women's choices were limited, she navigated her way to fame and fortune. Hers was a life filled equally with happiness and tragedy, one which left such an impact that the fascinating Kitty Fisher's name still resonates today. She was the Georgian era's most famous - and infamous - celebrity.
It is also a social history of the period looking not just at Kitty but also the women who were her contemporaries, as well as the men who were drawn to their sides... and into their beds. In this meticulously researched, lively and enjoyable book we discover the real woman at the heart of Kitty Fisher's enduring myth and legend.’
I must confess I was bracing myself for a bit of a historical fact dump with this book, did the unthinkable and judged it on its cover.
I thought it would be dates and facts and nothing more but I was certainly wrong !
This was so much more than a biography! Kitty completely came back to life with this beautiful telling of her short, scandalous and action packed life.
I was completely captivated from the first page to last by this fascinating woman’s strength and perseverance in the face of so much adversity.
The author did an astounding job and I had to keep reminding myself that this was not a character but a real life person.
At times I wanted to weep for poor kitty and at other times I was cheering her on.
I couldn’t help but think how perfect this story would be if portrayed on tv or film. It’s perfect for a bridgerton style backdrop, or even moulin rouge!
It would not need to be added to if adapted at all . Her story is action packed and full of a rollercoaster of emotions throughout.
I feel kitty’s story is a tale that needs to be known and I really hope that this book gets the attention it deserves and that everyone knows the tale of Catherine Maria Fischer.
I can’t wait to read more from this talented author and I would like to thank them and pen and swords book for including me in this book tour and sending me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest and independent review.
September 21, 2022
Joanne Major's "Kitty Fisher: The First Female Celebrity" is what, in the olden days, would be called a cautionary tale for young women.
Kitty Fisher was a very beautiful young girl, the apple of her father's eye. He had big plans for his daughter, and though a man of modest means, he did what he had to have her attend a finishing school. All in the hopes of her making an advantageous marriage. This was not to be; instead she became a courtesan.
Her fame (which eventually became her albatross) came via a fall off a runaway horse. Rather than show embarrassment or pain, she got up and laughed as if it was all one big lark. I guess her pluck impressed all who witnessed the fall, because afterwards she was the toast of London society. But it went sour fast. Between tawdry tabloid stories and an unofficial biography that was more flash than substance, Kitty soon became the butt of everyone's joke, little more than a fool in polite society's eyes, albeit a pretty one.
Major details the various attachments Kitty had during her brief 'career'. The least among them was a soldier, the highest one of the sons of King George II. She eventually marries her last lover, but fate stepped in. She had contracted tuberculosis from her previous lover and was now dying. At age 25, Kitty Fisher was no more. She lives on through an old nursery rhyme, and now this book.
An interesting tale, but sometimes the details about other people overwhelmed the story about Kitty. There should be a better balance between Kitty's story and the stories of the people around her. It would do the book a world of good. Still, it is a unique window into the world of high-class prostitution in Georgian-era London.
Thanks to NetGalley, Joanne Major, and Pen & Sword History for this advanced copy, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.
Kitty Fisher was a very beautiful young girl, the apple of her father's eye. He had big plans for his daughter, and though a man of modest means, he did what he had to have her attend a finishing school. All in the hopes of her making an advantageous marriage. This was not to be; instead she became a courtesan.
Her fame (which eventually became her albatross) came via a fall off a runaway horse. Rather than show embarrassment or pain, she got up and laughed as if it was all one big lark. I guess her pluck impressed all who witnessed the fall, because afterwards she was the toast of London society. But it went sour fast. Between tawdry tabloid stories and an unofficial biography that was more flash than substance, Kitty soon became the butt of everyone's joke, little more than a fool in polite society's eyes, albeit a pretty one.
Major details the various attachments Kitty had during her brief 'career'. The least among them was a soldier, the highest one of the sons of King George II. She eventually marries her last lover, but fate stepped in. She had contracted tuberculosis from her previous lover and was now dying. At age 25, Kitty Fisher was no more. She lives on through an old nursery rhyme, and now this book.
An interesting tale, but sometimes the details about other people overwhelmed the story about Kitty. There should be a better balance between Kitty's story and the stories of the people around her. It would do the book a world of good. Still, it is a unique window into the world of high-class prostitution in Georgian-era London.
Thanks to NetGalley, Joanne Major, and Pen & Sword History for this advanced copy, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.
April 14, 2023
Catherine Maria Fischer commonly known as Kitty Fisher was a Georgian era celebrity from the 18th Century. She was born in 1741 and sadly passed at a young age in 1767. Her life was full of scandal, sex, fame and fortune. She did however marry just before her death of Tuberculosis. Besides all of that she was a woman that men wanted and what women wanted to be.
I love how she never forgot her loved ones, she helped give her siblings an education, gave her family money, set up her old friends with jobs working for her and helped some of them marry by helping their partners get a trade. She never forgot where she came from. Kitty was, in laymen's terms, a sex worker. She was no ordinary sex worker; she sold herself to the highest bidder, the one with a name, the one with a title.. or in some cases they shared her, due to her price. She knew what she was worth and she took it.
The book itself is really enjoyable and really worth a read. I loved learning about Kitty and how she came to be! Mapping out her life and hearing the stories of how she went from a nobody to a someone that everybody including aristocrats talked about at the dining table. Kitty was a household name!
I love the cover it's beautiful. I was never a one for history when I was at school, but after I left all those years ago I really started to enjoy it. I love it now. I definitely need to read and review more history style books! This was great.
I love how she never forgot her loved ones, she helped give her siblings an education, gave her family money, set up her old friends with jobs working for her and helped some of them marry by helping their partners get a trade. She never forgot where she came from. Kitty was, in laymen's terms, a sex worker. She was no ordinary sex worker; she sold herself to the highest bidder, the one with a name, the one with a title.. or in some cases they shared her, due to her price. She knew what she was worth and she took it.
The book itself is really enjoyable and really worth a read. I loved learning about Kitty and how she came to be! Mapping out her life and hearing the stories of how she went from a nobody to a someone that everybody including aristocrats talked about at the dining table. Kitty was a household name!
I love the cover it's beautiful. I was never a one for history when I was at school, but after I left all those years ago I really started to enjoy it. I love it now. I definitely need to read and review more history style books! This was great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2023
Joanne Major wrote a powerful and well researched biography of Catherine Maria Fischer, better known as Kitty Fisher.
The Georgian Celebrity courtesan that made her own mark in the world, had a poor upbringing but her strength, perseverance and excellent ability to project and market her own image transformed Kitty Fisher into the first female celebrity!!
Due to her professional activities, she enjoyed all that money could bring and the interest that the general public had for her.
This fascinating lady enhanced women choices, transformed her life and was seen as someone to follow.
Unfortunately, Kitty passed away on her twenties.
The descriptions in the book bring London in the 18th century to life, with fantastic illustrations and portraits that really transported me to this magnificent era.
I found this biography very inspiring as a woman and hope that you want to read it as well!!
The Georgian Celebrity courtesan that made her own mark in the world, had a poor upbringing but her strength, perseverance and excellent ability to project and market her own image transformed Kitty Fisher into the first female celebrity!!
Due to her professional activities, she enjoyed all that money could bring and the interest that the general public had for her.
This fascinating lady enhanced women choices, transformed her life and was seen as someone to follow.
Unfortunately, Kitty passed away on her twenties.
The descriptions in the book bring London in the 18th century to life, with fantastic illustrations and portraits that really transported me to this magnificent era.
I found this biography very inspiring as a woman and hope that you want to read it as well!!
December 17, 2022
I was really looking forward to reading this, and I did enjoy it - just maybe not as much as I was hoping for.
The author has clearly done a lot of research, and it was great to read so much detail about Kitty and her life - but there was a lot of speculation used at times to fill in gaps/help the story along. I understand why this was done, as there were periods of time where Kitty's life/activities could not be account for as records had either been lost or were not specific enough to be attributed to her - so therefore speculation is the only option left.
Overall it was an interesting read, and it gives a really insightful snapshot into a time and lifestyle that nowadays is hard to imagine.
The author has clearly done a lot of research, and it was great to read so much detail about Kitty and her life - but there was a lot of speculation used at times to fill in gaps/help the story along. I understand why this was done, as there were periods of time where Kitty's life/activities could not be account for as records had either been lost or were not specific enough to be attributed to her - so therefore speculation is the only option left.
Overall it was an interesting read, and it gives a really insightful snapshot into a time and lifestyle that nowadays is hard to imagine.
December 14, 2022
Interesting and easy to read. This book tells the story of Kitty Fisher, one of the many courtesans who illuminated Georgian England.
November 7, 2022
'Kitty Fisher' by Joanne Major explores the life of a very famous young woman who you'll have heard of, even if you don't know it.
The premise of this really excited me but ultimately I didn't find it concise or concrete enough to keep my interest. There's a lot of speculation by the author ('Kitty lived here and x lived here so they probably knew each other') and a winding narrative. Rather than dealing exclusively with the main character Joanne Major uses Kitty Fisher as a jumping off point to explore society of the time and the lifestyles of other prominient historical figures. It was definitely an interesting read but a very winding narrative and I was never sure what the 'destination' of the book was.
The premise of this really excited me but ultimately I didn't find it concise or concrete enough to keep my interest. There's a lot of speculation by the author ('Kitty lived here and x lived here so they probably knew each other') and a winding narrative. Rather than dealing exclusively with the main character Joanne Major uses Kitty Fisher as a jumping off point to explore society of the time and the lifestyles of other prominient historical figures. It was definitely an interesting read but a very winding narrative and I was never sure what the 'destination' of the book was.
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