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Courtesans: A Fascinating History of Power and Scandal
‘Irresistible…history at its most human. Elegant and addictively readable.’ William Dalrymple
During the course of the 18th- and 19th-century a small group of women rose from impoverished obscurity to positions of great power, independence and wealth. In doing so they took control of their lives – and those of other people – and made the world do their will.
Men ruined themselves in desperate attempts to gain and retain a courtesan's favours, but she was always courted for far more than sex. In an age in which women were generally not well educated she was often unusually literate and literary, courted for her conversation as well as her physical company. Courtesans were extremely accomplished, and exerted a powerful influence as leaders of fashion and society. They were not received at Court, but inhabited their own parallel world – the demi-monde – complete with its own hierarchies, etiquette and protocol. They were queens of fashion, linguists, musicians, accomplished at political intrigue and, of course, possessors of great erotic gifts. Even to be seen in public with one of the great courtesans was a much-envied achievement.
In ‘Courtesans’ Katie Hickman, author of the bestselling ‘Daughters of Britannia’, focuses on the exceptional stories of five outstanding women. Sophia Baddeley, Elizabeth Armistead, Harriette Wilson, Cora Pearl and Catherine Walters may have had very different personalities and talents, but their lives exemplify the dazzling existence of the courtesan.
During the course of the 18th- and 19th-century a small group of women rose from impoverished obscurity to positions of great power, independence and wealth. In doing so they took control of their lives – and those of other people – and made the world do their will.
Men ruined themselves in desperate attempts to gain and retain a courtesan's favours, but she was always courted for far more than sex. In an age in which women were generally not well educated she was often unusually literate and literary, courted for her conversation as well as her physical company. Courtesans were extremely accomplished, and exerted a powerful influence as leaders of fashion and society. They were not received at Court, but inhabited their own parallel world – the demi-monde – complete with its own hierarchies, etiquette and protocol. They were queens of fashion, linguists, musicians, accomplished at political intrigue and, of course, possessors of great erotic gifts. Even to be seen in public with one of the great courtesans was a much-envied achievement.
In ‘Courtesans’ Katie Hickman, author of the bestselling ‘Daughters of Britannia’, focuses on the exceptional stories of five outstanding women. Sophia Baddeley, Elizabeth Armistead, Harriette Wilson, Cora Pearl and Catherine Walters may have had very different personalities and talents, but their lives exemplify the dazzling existence of the courtesan.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
Katie Hickman
20 books143 followersKatie Hickman was born into a diplomatic family in 1960 and has spent more than twenty-five years living abroad in Europe, the Far East and Latin America. She is featured in the Oxford University Press guide to women travellers, Wayward Women.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
December 4, 2012
.
My candle burns at both its ends
It will not last the night
But ah my friends and oh my foes
It casts a lovely light
Yes indeed, these were the ultimate party girls of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.... Beautiful, intelligent,witty and charismatic. Out for a good time and spending money like water...... they were the epitome of femme fatale desirability, and the darlings of the (male) aristocratic world.
”In just two weeks her household expenses topped thirty thousand francs (£56,000). But it was her own extravagance, her extraordinary byzantine taste for luxurious display, that was the most crippling. In the winter months she had fruit brought to the table embedded not in moss, as was the fashion at that time, but in Parma violets, which had cost her a ruinous 1500 francs (nearly £3000). It was not merely empty extravagance which guided Cora; her instincts were the finest ones of the born hostess. Once one of her guests broke a liqueur glass, one of an extremely expensive set of which Cora was particularly proud, whereupon his hostess ‘accidentally’ broke another four, simply to put him at his ease.”
The high and mighty of the realm fell over themselves to earn the companionship of these women
”An actual introduction to Hariette, undreamed of all but the most daring, was the very pinnacle of social success.... While Hariette could request a meeting with any man she chose protocol strictly forbade men from taking a similar liberty. An introduction to her, especially in a place as public as an opera box, was not a favour to be lightly granted. It was usually arranged in advance, and supplicants were strictly vetted.”
”The morning after the masquerade....the door-knocker of the house in Grafton Street rapped from morning till evening.. (Sophia) gave orders for the servants to say they were not at home, but had the names of their callers read out ‘Among the many that called to pay their respects were, the Dukes of Northumberland, Ancaster, the Marquis of Queensberry; Lords Harrington, Lincoln, Clanbrazil, Winchilsea, Falmouth, Pigot, Mr R. Conway etc”
The book centres on the lives of five courtesans – Sophia Baddeley (1745-1786), Elizabeth Armistead (1750-1842), Hariette Wilson (1786-1845), Cora Pearl (1835-1866) and Catherine Walters “Skittles” (1839-1920).
There were differences between them. In the eighteenth century courtesans had huge cult followings throughout society, and in many ways they were de rigour companions for rich and aristocratic men. At a time when most marriages were arranged for political and financial reasons, the courtesans were the ultimate in desirability, arousing huge passion and loyalty in their followers.
In the nineteenth century attitudes changed. Wives began to be chosen on the basis of love and friendship, and began to morally get the upper hand. It was no longer considered fun and fashionable to be seen around town with one’s mistress, and the newspapers stopped reporting their activities. This didn’t mean they weren’t still outstandingly sought after, but their public presence was less dramatic.
The above photo is of Catherine Walters, a famous courtesan and horsewoman. She was also famous for her riding habit - it was so tight that she had to be sewn into it.
Of the five women discussed, my favourite was Elizabeth Armistead. She was a successful courtesan, but slowly, over the years, she and one of her admirers – the politician Charles James Fox - fell in love..... In the end they got married, and in spite of the cold rejection of courtesans by society women, and their exclusion from polite society, they had many friends and lived happily ever after.
Boring old me perhaps, but I found Elizabeth's story infinitely more moving than the wild and extravagant stories of her counterparts.
This book was an interesting read.... I knew nothing about courtesans before reading it, and it was fascinating to learn about their status in Georgian and Regency society.
*Poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay.
My candle burns at both its ends
It will not last the night
But ah my friends and oh my foes
It casts a lovely light
Yes indeed, these were the ultimate party girls of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.... Beautiful, intelligent,witty and charismatic. Out for a good time and spending money like water...... they were the epitome of femme fatale desirability, and the darlings of the (male) aristocratic world.
”In just two weeks her household expenses topped thirty thousand francs (£56,000). But it was her own extravagance, her extraordinary byzantine taste for luxurious display, that was the most crippling. In the winter months she had fruit brought to the table embedded not in moss, as was the fashion at that time, but in Parma violets, which had cost her a ruinous 1500 francs (nearly £3000). It was not merely empty extravagance which guided Cora; her instincts were the finest ones of the born hostess. Once one of her guests broke a liqueur glass, one of an extremely expensive set of which Cora was particularly proud, whereupon his hostess ‘accidentally’ broke another four, simply to put him at his ease.”
The high and mighty of the realm fell over themselves to earn the companionship of these women
”An actual introduction to Hariette, undreamed of all but the most daring, was the very pinnacle of social success.... While Hariette could request a meeting with any man she chose protocol strictly forbade men from taking a similar liberty. An introduction to her, especially in a place as public as an opera box, was not a favour to be lightly granted. It was usually arranged in advance, and supplicants were strictly vetted.”
”The morning after the masquerade....the door-knocker of the house in Grafton Street rapped from morning till evening.. (Sophia) gave orders for the servants to say they were not at home, but had the names of their callers read out ‘Among the many that called to pay their respects were, the Dukes of Northumberland, Ancaster, the Marquis of Queensberry; Lords Harrington, Lincoln, Clanbrazil, Winchilsea, Falmouth, Pigot, Mr R. Conway etc”
The book centres on the lives of five courtesans – Sophia Baddeley (1745-1786), Elizabeth Armistead (1750-1842), Hariette Wilson (1786-1845), Cora Pearl (1835-1866) and Catherine Walters “Skittles” (1839-1920).
There were differences between them. In the eighteenth century courtesans had huge cult followings throughout society, and in many ways they were de rigour companions for rich and aristocratic men. At a time when most marriages were arranged for political and financial reasons, the courtesans were the ultimate in desirability, arousing huge passion and loyalty in their followers.
In the nineteenth century attitudes changed. Wives began to be chosen on the basis of love and friendship, and began to morally get the upper hand. It was no longer considered fun and fashionable to be seen around town with one’s mistress, and the newspapers stopped reporting their activities. This didn’t mean they weren’t still outstandingly sought after, but their public presence was less dramatic.
The above photo is of Catherine Walters, a famous courtesan and horsewoman. She was also famous for her riding habit - it was so tight that she had to be sewn into it.
Of the five women discussed, my favourite was Elizabeth Armistead. She was a successful courtesan, but slowly, over the years, she and one of her admirers – the politician Charles James Fox - fell in love..... In the end they got married, and in spite of the cold rejection of courtesans by society women, and their exclusion from polite society, they had many friends and lived happily ever after.
Boring old me perhaps, but I found Elizabeth's story infinitely more moving than the wild and extravagant stories of her counterparts.
This book was an interesting read.... I knew nothing about courtesans before reading it, and it was fascinating to learn about their status in Georgian and Regency society.
*Poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay.
March 19, 2009
Hickman has written a lively collective biography of the lives of five English courtesans spanning the 'long nineteenth century' from the 1770s through to the end of the nineteenth century. These women inhabited the demi-monde, the invisible world that existed outside of polite social circles.
Hickman takes pains to point out that her book is not meant as a definitive biography for any of these five women but is intended to serve as an overview of their lives and of the society of their times. I found it a fascinating work of cultural history written in a chatty and accessible style yet also backed up with notes, sources and bibliography.
Hickman takes pains to point out that her book is not meant as a definitive biography for any of these five women but is intended to serve as an overview of their lives and of the society of their times. I found it a fascinating work of cultural history written in a chatty and accessible style yet also backed up with notes, sources and bibliography.
August 30, 2015
This is a rattling good read. It's quite a gossipy account of the lives and times of five of the better-known courtesans living and working in England and France from the 18th to the 20th centuries. To say it's 'gossipy' is to underrate it, however. Hickman's style is tremendously readable, but she's resesarched her subject matter exhaustively. The courtesans themselves, and the wide social spehere in which they mixed is described in detail and sympathetically. I came to the last page reluctantly, feeling I'd learnt a lt about the social history of the times, and of the lives of women in particular.
January 4, 2012
A very entertaining and well-written book, part biography and part social history. My only regret here is that Hickman didn't write about late 19th/early 20th century courtesans, which would have given an interesting perspective to the book.
June 9, 2016
I enjoyed this book as an excellent read, but am not sure that I really agree with the author's opinion that these women were independent, 'proto-feminists' who could be role models for us today. For all their beauty, glamour, money etc. these women were, at heart, prostitutes, utterly dependent on men to whom they sold their bodies for money. Yes, they maintained a kind of freedom in avoiding the patriarchal power of marriage, but they weren't any less defined by men, or any more able to construct their own lifestyles or self-identities, other than in what would be sexually-enticing for the men they needed to survive.
Most of them weren't married, not because they chose to be 'single', but because they weren't accepted in 'polite' society, an alienation which is played down quite a lot in the book. Similarly there's a lot of talk about their sexual independence, but while they were women who valued themselves, can someone be said to be independent when actually they are socially-ostracised, and have to sleep with men because that's their 'career' and only source of income?
It seems to me to be a little disturbing that there is a bit of trend for glamourising prostitution (Belle du Jour, for example, as a modern take on the same story), when beneath the money and the allure lies what appears to me to be a sad story of female victims dressing up their own dependency as freedom.
Despite that (!), I did enjoy this book, and there's undoubtedly a sense of survival about these women that is admirable. The shopping too is mouth-watering, but for all the women who raved about this for the 'independence' of the protagonists: be honest, is this really what we would want for our daughters?
Most of them weren't married, not because they chose to be 'single', but because they weren't accepted in 'polite' society, an alienation which is played down quite a lot in the book. Similarly there's a lot of talk about their sexual independence, but while they were women who valued themselves, can someone be said to be independent when actually they are socially-ostracised, and have to sleep with men because that's their 'career' and only source of income?
It seems to me to be a little disturbing that there is a bit of trend for glamourising prostitution (Belle du Jour, for example, as a modern take on the same story), when beneath the money and the allure lies what appears to me to be a sad story of female victims dressing up their own dependency as freedom.
Despite that (!), I did enjoy this book, and there's undoubtedly a sense of survival about these women that is admirable. The shopping too is mouth-watering, but for all the women who raved about this for the 'independence' of the protagonists: be honest, is this really what we would want for our daughters?
May 27, 2018
Courtesans: Money, Sex and Fame in the Nineteenth Century by Katie Hickman is a social biography exploring the fascinating lives of five renowned courtesans—Sophia Baddeley (1745-1786), Elizabeth Armistead (1750-1842), Harriette Wilson (1786-1845), Cora Pearl (1835-1886), and Catherine Walters (1839-1920). Hickman charts the illustrious career of each courtesan, beginning with her life either as a prostitute or actress (a word synonymous with prostitute at the time).
Each courtesan is described as a unique individual. Sophia Baddeley recklessly spent exorbitant amounts of money; Elizabeth Armistead was an astute businesswoman who secured annuities from each of her successive patrons, enabling her to purchase homes for herself; the enterprising Harriette Wilson threatened to name names in her salacious memoir of 1825 unless she was duly compensated; the candid Cora Pearl valued her independence to such a degree she refused marriage proposals, claiming she detested men too much to ever obey one of them; and Catherine Walters (Skittles) excelled in horsemanship and in having an exceedingly small waist.
Some courtesans were able to move up the social ladder by attracting the attentions of wealthy, aristocratic patrons, (many of whom were European royalty) who then showered them with gifts and money and set them up in their own residences. Referred to as “kept women,” they frequently adopted the last name of their patron as if they were unofficially married. And some eventually married their patron.
The extravagant life-style of the courtesan was fodder for the gossip columnists. They and their patrons were frequently listed in the celebrity gossip section of Town and Country Magazine so all could see who was “keeping” whom and what benefits the “kept” woman received, including copious amounts of money, a home, servants, jewelry, etc. The successful courtesan demanded and received an all-expenses paid set up. Although the terms varied, for the most part, the courtesan was expected to make herself available exclusively to her patron at all times—that is, until he got tired of her and/or until he discovered her infidelity. Accomplished courtesans were highly sought after by men competing with each other to win her favor. The more prestigious her clientele, the more desirable she became, and the harder men would try to lure her from her current patron.
In addition to their dripping sexual allure and good looks, some courtesans were accomplished musicians, singers, actresses, and conversationalists. Admired by women as well as men, they were the fashionistas of their day, setting the trend for clothing, jewelry, and hairstyles. But by the early nineteenth century, the general public became less tolerant of courtesans and extra-marital relationships. Men no longer gleefully paraded their mistresses around for all to see. The celebrity status of the courtesan declined, her work becoming enshrouded in secrecy; her transactions conducted in private.
Hickman provides more than an engaging biography of the lives of these five women. She gives us a detailed view of the life and mores of upper class nineteenth-century Europe, occasionally veering off into areas that are only tangentially relevant. Her research is well documented with extensive notes, sources, and bibliography. Her style is accessible, lively, and engaging.
Hickman treats her subjects with sympathy, admiring them for their fierce independence. But her claim that they are “a powerful symbol of a woman’s potential for autonomy” is, perhaps, a bridge too far. These women forged their identities based on their perceptions of what men desired. They were also totally dependent on a series of men to provide them with financial security and to maintain them in their extravagant lifestyles—a situation that doesn’t lend itself to the image of an autonomous female.
This was an engaging and highly informative read. It is recommended for those interested in cultural history and in understanding how and why a group of women cultivated the role of courtesans in nineteenth-century Europe.
Each courtesan is described as a unique individual. Sophia Baddeley recklessly spent exorbitant amounts of money; Elizabeth Armistead was an astute businesswoman who secured annuities from each of her successive patrons, enabling her to purchase homes for herself; the enterprising Harriette Wilson threatened to name names in her salacious memoir of 1825 unless she was duly compensated; the candid Cora Pearl valued her independence to such a degree she refused marriage proposals, claiming she detested men too much to ever obey one of them; and Catherine Walters (Skittles) excelled in horsemanship and in having an exceedingly small waist.
Some courtesans were able to move up the social ladder by attracting the attentions of wealthy, aristocratic patrons, (many of whom were European royalty) who then showered them with gifts and money and set them up in their own residences. Referred to as “kept women,” they frequently adopted the last name of their patron as if they were unofficially married. And some eventually married their patron.
The extravagant life-style of the courtesan was fodder for the gossip columnists. They and their patrons were frequently listed in the celebrity gossip section of Town and Country Magazine so all could see who was “keeping” whom and what benefits the “kept” woman received, including copious amounts of money, a home, servants, jewelry, etc. The successful courtesan demanded and received an all-expenses paid set up. Although the terms varied, for the most part, the courtesan was expected to make herself available exclusively to her patron at all times—that is, until he got tired of her and/or until he discovered her infidelity. Accomplished courtesans were highly sought after by men competing with each other to win her favor. The more prestigious her clientele, the more desirable she became, and the harder men would try to lure her from her current patron.
In addition to their dripping sexual allure and good looks, some courtesans were accomplished musicians, singers, actresses, and conversationalists. Admired by women as well as men, they were the fashionistas of their day, setting the trend for clothing, jewelry, and hairstyles. But by the early nineteenth century, the general public became less tolerant of courtesans and extra-marital relationships. Men no longer gleefully paraded their mistresses around for all to see. The celebrity status of the courtesan declined, her work becoming enshrouded in secrecy; her transactions conducted in private.
Hickman provides more than an engaging biography of the lives of these five women. She gives us a detailed view of the life and mores of upper class nineteenth-century Europe, occasionally veering off into areas that are only tangentially relevant. Her research is well documented with extensive notes, sources, and bibliography. Her style is accessible, lively, and engaging.
Hickman treats her subjects with sympathy, admiring them for their fierce independence. But her claim that they are “a powerful symbol of a woman’s potential for autonomy” is, perhaps, a bridge too far. These women forged their identities based on their perceptions of what men desired. They were also totally dependent on a series of men to provide them with financial security and to maintain them in their extravagant lifestyles—a situation that doesn’t lend itself to the image of an autonomous female.
This was an engaging and highly informative read. It is recommended for those interested in cultural history and in understanding how and why a group of women cultivated the role of courtesans in nineteenth-century Europe.
January 15, 2022
I felt it was too detailed in places and went off on a tangent.
Such a unstable and unsure walk of life, mostly based on youth, beauty and allure, and once those you were gone you didn’t have much going for you. Securing a wealthy man early in life was absolutely imperative.
I felt sad for these women, rich and beautiful but all could fall down in the blink of an eye
Such a unstable and unsure walk of life, mostly based on youth, beauty and allure, and once those you were gone you didn’t have much going for you. Securing a wealthy man early in life was absolutely imperative.
I felt sad for these women, rich and beautiful but all could fall down in the blink of an eye
September 27, 2009
The book focuses on five specific courtesans who lived during the "long nineteenth century," the 150 years encompassing the heyday of the courtesan in England and Europe. It explores the culture of the demi-monde, the "half-world" inhabited by courtesans, and the monde, the high society in which the aristocracy lived, and the attraction-repulsion between the two worlds: The men of the monde who loved and supported their chosen courtesan and their wives who despised and villified these "fallen women," yet, at the same time, emulated their fashions and habits. It's a story of concepts--independence, control over one's own destiny, sexual freedom--which today seem impossible to deny to any free woman, yet caused the women in this book to be pushed aside, forced to live at the boundaries of respectable society; essentially punished for having these "unnatural" desires.
My only quibble with the book concerns the final biography, that of Catherine "Skittles" Walters. The author seemed to focus more on the story of her most ardent admirer, Wilfred Scawen Blunt, than on Catherine herself, with a great chunk of her middle years devoted instead to the telling of his actions at the time, leaving her at the periphery. Perhaps the data to fully tell her story was missing. It's hard to know. Otherwise, the rest of the book does an excellent job.
My only quibble with the book concerns the final biography, that of Catherine "Skittles" Walters. The author seemed to focus more on the story of her most ardent admirer, Wilfred Scawen Blunt, than on Catherine herself, with a great chunk of her middle years devoted instead to the telling of his actions at the time, leaving her at the periphery. Perhaps the data to fully tell her story was missing. It's hard to know. Otherwise, the rest of the book does an excellent job.
August 4, 2011
I was interested in this book mainly to research the English Regency courtesan for a paper I am planning to write. I was particularly taken by some of the reasons why these women would seek such a position in life. Many were lead to such a life by their seduction by a predatory male thus losing any worth in society and had no choice but to seek a livelihood in the many bawdy houses in London. It was surprising that other women often chose the lifestyle despite being deemed of the "half world". They were never admitted into true society but still were able to influence fashion and taste among the ladies of society. Many chose this lifestyle for the freedom. These women did not play by the rules of their times, many shunning marriage while having an open and modern outlook towards sex. These ladies demonstrated self-reliance at a time when "women were expected to be passive, modest, and dependent". The smart ones managed to arrange financial security from their rich and often aristocratic lovers. The exceptional ones would go on to marry their lovers and make the leap from courtesanry to society.
February 27, 2025
T’was aight. Dry like other people mentioned, and it was very hard to get engaged at some parts. It’s weird because at times it was absorbing. Kind of like when you’re eating nachos and you get a really cheesy chip, but then you bite into a bare one afterwards.
March 20, 2017
2 1/2 ☆
Not particularly enlightening.
Boring read about English courtesans of a long 19th century.
Hickman says that there are few connections between the 5 biographies contained in this book, only the time period combines. Yet themes arise. At the beginning of the long 19th century, courtesans largely remained in their accommodations, houses or apartments. By the end of the long 19th century, the courtesans while still barred from the entertainments of the affluent, aristocratic, and noble, the courtesans dod enter publice places. Eventually young may-yet-be courtesans walked and demonstrated horses to ladies in Hyde Park. And by the end of the period discissed, courtesans were riding and airing in Hyde Park.
Even though the courtesans were barred from polite society among ladies, ladies were highly interested in the styles and houses of the courtesans. When courtesans died and their houses and household goods sold, ladies often were anxious to take a look in a bawdy house :-)
Not particularly enlightening.
Boring read about English courtesans of a long 19th century.
Hickman says that there are few connections between the 5 biographies contained in this book, only the time period combines. Yet themes arise. At the beginning of the long 19th century, courtesans largely remained in their accommodations, houses or apartments. By the end of the long 19th century, the courtesans while still barred from the entertainments of the affluent, aristocratic, and noble, the courtesans dod enter publice places. Eventually young may-yet-be courtesans walked and demonstrated horses to ladies in Hyde Park. And by the end of the period discissed, courtesans were riding and airing in Hyde Park.
Even though the courtesans were barred from polite society among ladies, ladies were highly interested in the styles and houses of the courtesans. When courtesans died and their houses and household goods sold, ladies often were anxious to take a look in a bawdy house :-)
September 7, 2024
Decent knowledgeable book but it feels like I am missing something. Like this is a supplemental book assigned to me in a graduate level women’s sociology class. I was given a lot of facts but didn’t have the structure to string them together into a cohesive narrative or thesis on the social structures of sex workers
March 14, 2017
Every society has its level of acceptance and the prostitute was found to be unacceptable.....or maybe not. This book tells the tale of the courtesans of the 18th-19th century and where they fell in the social order. They were not considered prostitutes but more akin to the "kept woman" or "mistress". The French have the most vivid description of courtesan....les grandes horizontales. These women were the favorites of the aristocracy and moneyed class and a few even married into that class. These were women, who although shunned by "society ladies", were leaders of fashion and set the tone for dress and hair styles. They were the demi-monde who everyone copied but wouldn't admit that they did.
This a the story of five of the world's most famous courtesans from their humble beginnings to the world of jewels and riches. Unfortunately some of them spent themselves into poverty in the end while others either married well or kept their fortunes intact. The book is a little slow at times but generally a good read about a class of ladies who were famous regardless of their perceived position in the social ladder.
This a the story of five of the world's most famous courtesans from their humble beginnings to the world of jewels and riches. Unfortunately some of them spent themselves into poverty in the end while others either married well or kept their fortunes intact. The book is a little slow at times but generally a good read about a class of ladies who were famous regardless of their perceived position in the social ladder.
January 20, 2019
Courtesans was not what I’d hoped or imagined it to be. I expected a look at the social history of courtesans and prostitution, talking specifically about 5 famous courtesans. Instead, I got a fairly dull book that featured what was supposed to be mini biographies of those courtesans but was actually about their patrons and their shopping lists.
Hickman’s writing is fairly average, not the worst I've ever read, but a good chunk of this book is boring; there is absolutely nothing enjoyable about the first 2 ‘biographies’ and I was tempted to put it down on more than one occasion. I’m glad I stuck with it, if only to read about the incredible Cora Pearl. It picked up in the latter half and was enjoyable enough to warrant an average rating, but all this book did was inspire me to read better books about the subject matter.
3 / 5
Hickman’s writing is fairly average, not the worst I've ever read, but a good chunk of this book is boring; there is absolutely nothing enjoyable about the first 2 ‘biographies’ and I was tempted to put it down on more than one occasion. I’m glad I stuck with it, if only to read about the incredible Cora Pearl. It picked up in the latter half and was enjoyable enough to warrant an average rating, but all this book did was inspire me to read better books about the subject matter.
3 / 5
July 3, 2026
Despite the slightly clickbait-y title, this is an absolutely magnificent work of popular history. Evocative, engaging and thoroughly researched. The best book I have ever read about the demi-monde.
Read
April 20, 2016Courtesans starts by giving us an overview of the courtesan over time, showing us that people like her have been around in many times and places, from ancient Greece to Renaissance Italy and on to the time frame of this book, the "long 19th century" in London where these five extraordinary women made their way. A courtesan, along with her more obvious role, had to have a lot more going for her. She must be a good conversationalist, engaging and friendly, socially apt, a good hostess, elegant and up-to-date in her fashion and the furnishings of her home. Some had vivid intellectual lives and ran salons.
From this introduction the book moves on to give us portraits, in both text and picture form, of: Sophia Baddeley, Elizabeth Armistead, Harriette Wilson, Cora Pearl, and Catherine Walters.
Interspersed along with the origins and anecdotes are side paths discussing various cultural aspects of English society of the time, such as: the compartmentalization of social and sexual life that allowed the demimonde to thrive; the double standard of sexual behavior that sent many young women into prostitution; women's changing legal status, which included being able to initiate a divorce; birth control and abortion; horses and carriages; jewelry and fashion, including the rise and fall of the crinoline.
I appreciated the quotes that showed these women's humor and desire for independence. There's a push and pull here. Being a courtesan meant that they weren't subject to many of the strictures that women in the monde were. However, their way of life was entirely dependent on keeping men's attention and money flowing their way.
This book could so easily have focused on accounts that were salacious or judgmental. I think Hickman, to the extent that it's possible given the available source material, tried to see these women's lives from their own points of view, to present them as actors and decision-makers in their own lives--for better and for worse--and as movers in a world where other women were important to them as long-time friends and companions. Tidbits about Sophia Baddeley's relationship with duenna and biographer Mrs Steele, and Harriette Wilson's with her sisters who were also courtesans, were welcome parts of their sections.
However, Elizabeth Armistead's section places a lot of emphasis on her long-time partner (and then husband) the orator Charles Fox, and Catherine Walters's on her friend Wilfred Blunt, whose diary and collected correspondence form a good portion of the source material available about her. Almost more emphasis than on the women themselves.
Also, aside from talking about the salon that Catherine ran in late middle age, and her declining health as she aged, there isn't much discussion that goes beyond days of youthful glory and glamour. At least two of the courtesans lived well past middle age, and I would have liked to see more about what their lives were like when "courtesan" was no longer their job description.
I suspect that a hardcore historian wouldn't get a lot out of Courtesans and it feels better suited for a general, less historically knowledgeable reader such as myself. I enjoyed it from cover to cover and it's sparked an interest in reading more about its time period.
From this introduction the book moves on to give us portraits, in both text and picture form, of: Sophia Baddeley, Elizabeth Armistead, Harriette Wilson, Cora Pearl, and Catherine Walters.
Interspersed along with the origins and anecdotes are side paths discussing various cultural aspects of English society of the time, such as: the compartmentalization of social and sexual life that allowed the demimonde to thrive; the double standard of sexual behavior that sent many young women into prostitution; women's changing legal status, which included being able to initiate a divorce; birth control and abortion; horses and carriages; jewelry and fashion, including the rise and fall of the crinoline.
I appreciated the quotes that showed these women's humor and desire for independence. There's a push and pull here. Being a courtesan meant that they weren't subject to many of the strictures that women in the monde were. However, their way of life was entirely dependent on keeping men's attention and money flowing their way.
This book could so easily have focused on accounts that were salacious or judgmental. I think Hickman, to the extent that it's possible given the available source material, tried to see these women's lives from their own points of view, to present them as actors and decision-makers in their own lives--for better and for worse--and as movers in a world where other women were important to them as long-time friends and companions. Tidbits about Sophia Baddeley's relationship with duenna and biographer Mrs Steele, and Harriette Wilson's with her sisters who were also courtesans, were welcome parts of their sections.
However, Elizabeth Armistead's section places a lot of emphasis on her long-time partner (and then husband) the orator Charles Fox, and Catherine Walters's on her friend Wilfred Blunt, whose diary and collected correspondence form a good portion of the source material available about her. Almost more emphasis than on the women themselves.
Also, aside from talking about the salon that Catherine ran in late middle age, and her declining health as she aged, there isn't much discussion that goes beyond days of youthful glory and glamour. At least two of the courtesans lived well past middle age, and I would have liked to see more about what their lives were like when "courtesan" was no longer their job description.
I suspect that a hardcore historian wouldn't get a lot out of Courtesans and it feels better suited for a general, less historically knowledgeable reader such as myself. I enjoyed it from cover to cover and it's sparked an interest in reading more about its time period.
March 20, 2025
This is a fun book, how could it not be? it's about the 'demimonde' those women who managed to carve out a role for themselves in London and Paris as the mistresses of 'great men'. But this an account based on printed memoirs and secondary sources, the author hasn't consulted any of vast output of feminist academics or writers who have examined the lives and opportunities of women in general through the prism of the 'grand horizontales'. They maybe called Courtesans but they were only prostitutes, of a superior sort, like the better sort of servant and none of them had power or position outside of what they gained from men. If anybody is tempted to view them as 'celebrities' such as we have today they need to get a grip on facts. Their careers were short and their ends were usually early in age and ugly in circumstance.
There is just a bit too much gloss too much wallowing in extravagance and not enough context. The idea that these women had power is sloppy thinking. They had nicer clothes, warmer houses and wore real jewellery - for a time - but they had far more in common with the prostitute victims of Jack the Ripper in Whitehall then the wives and daughters of the men who hired them, women they never met.
There is an avoidance of the reality and powerlessness of women in the presentation of books like this. If you want to know the reality go, if you can, to London's Cross Bones graveyard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_B...) and weep.
There is just a bit too much gloss too much wallowing in extravagance and not enough context. The idea that these women had power is sloppy thinking. They had nicer clothes, warmer houses and wore real jewellery - for a time - but they had far more in common with the prostitute victims of Jack the Ripper in Whitehall then the wives and daughters of the men who hired them, women they never met.
There is an avoidance of the reality and powerlessness of women in the presentation of books like this. If you want to know the reality go, if you can, to London's Cross Bones graveyard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_B...) and weep.
November 3, 2009
I found this book on the library shelves and picked it up on a whim. It is a portray of the "long 19th century" (mid 1700s to late 1800s) in England, the demi-monde, and five of the most famous courtesans. The courtesans overlap each other but not my much. The demi-monde was the "half-world" filled with courtesans, prostitutes, mistresses and other less-than-respectable women. In a time and a society that offered few options to women, these women owned their own property, made their own choices, and were independant in a way that could not be said of the majority of their gender. In addition to the detailed portrayals of the five courtesans, there was a great deal of information on the sex trade, courtesans, mistresses, and sexuality in general. Hickman did an excellent job of conveying history and rich detail to keep the reader interested and the material from being dry. I was completely engrossed in this book and highly recommend it to history fans, women's studies or history fans.
For a fun pairing, watch the movie The Duchess (starring Keira Knightly) immediately after reading this. I did so and found it interesting to see the same time period (even some of the same people) portrayed from the other side of teh coin.
For a fun pairing, watch the movie The Duchess (starring Keira Knightly) immediately after reading this. I did so and found it interesting to see the same time period (even some of the same people) portrayed from the other side of teh coin.
December 27, 2008
I liked this book, for the most part. It's always interesting to read about how women lived in other places and times, and the author does a great job in evoking the age. I think that what annoyed me most about this book, though, is the almost apologetic attitude the author takes with how the women spend their earnings. None of the women could manage their finances, despite their otherwise level-headed attitudes towards their independence, with the sole exception of Elizabeth Armistead, who was also exceptional in being the only one of the five to end up married to a suitable (emotionally and financially) man. It's also hard to sympathize with women such as Cora Pearl, who refuse to get along with other women on principle alone. Otherwise, an interesting look at sexual attitudes among the better-off of mid-19th century to 1920s England and France.
August 31, 2009
Technically, two of the courtesans lived and loved in the eighteenth century, so the subtitle is a bit misleading as to the scope of the book.
Very interesting. It was a bit disconcerting to keep reading about how dreadfully incestuous the English aristocracy was. Although at one point Hickman points out that the court of men that surrounded the courtesans of the Second Empire totaled about 100, so I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that the same names turn up again and again. It must have been a similar situation in England.
Very interesting. It was a bit disconcerting to keep reading about how dreadfully incestuous the English aristocracy was. Although at one point Hickman points out that the court of men that surrounded the courtesans of the Second Empire totaled about 100, so I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that the same names turn up again and again. It must have been a similar situation in England.
July 30, 2014
I greatly enjoyed the portraits of the courtesans presented here; I was quite unfamiliar with all of their stories and each certainly seems interesting enough to warrant a book of her own.
The author often strays from the lives of her primary subjects, which can be a little difficult to follow (Oh, we're talking about Lady Whatsername instead of the main character now? okay! Oh wait... now we're back to the focus of this chapter? okay!). Given the rich subject matter, though, I am quite willing to forgive her.
The author often strays from the lives of her primary subjects, which can be a little difficult to follow (Oh, we're talking about Lady Whatsername instead of the main character now? okay! Oh wait... now we're back to the focus of this chapter? okay!). Given the rich subject matter, though, I am quite willing to forgive her.
October 7, 2010
Nominally follows the lives of 5 renowned courtesans starting in the late 18th century through the beginning of the 20th century.
But for a book about courtesans, and with a subtitle like Money, Sex and Fame in the Nineteenth Century, this is a remarkably dry book. I knew I was in trouble when somewhere within Harriet Wilson's biography we took a sharp left turn onto the history of underwear.
But for a book about courtesans, and with a subtitle like Money, Sex and Fame in the Nineteenth Century, this is a remarkably dry book. I knew I was in trouble when somewhere within Harriet Wilson's biography we took a sharp left turn onto the history of underwear.
May 21, 2024
Fascinating and extremely well researched account of the 19th-century demimonde world of the courtesans of London and Paris. The author provides a sympathetic view of their situations while also showing the extraordinary independence they enjoyed for their time period. The book concentrates in depth on five of the most celebrated courtesans of their day. A very enjoyable read.
June 5, 2014
Not gonna lie, the lives of 19th century courtesans sound fun as hell. They were covered in diamonds and threw epic parties. Certainly more fun than the "nice" women were having at the time.
November 19, 2016
Juicy book full of fascinating scandals and details of the demi-monde in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Fun and a quick read.
November 27, 2024
Well sourced and literarily written, very helpful for my research. The current rating is a bit below my expectations to be honest
October 11, 2017
3.5 stars. This was a second read for me, but to be honest I read it so long ago I didn't remember much.
Courtesans tells the story of four women in the 'long' 19th Century, who were famed and feted, superstars of their time - though of course, only in certain sets. What I found fascinating was not so much the stories of the women themselves (I'll get to that) but the changing attitudes in society to them. High class prostitution, for this is what it was, was much more acceptable in the Georgian period than it was by the time we got to the story of Skittles in the mid-Victorian period. When Sophia Baddely plied her trade, she was a trend setter, not exactly mixing with women in society, but admired by them and revered by them. While Skittles, the most famous perhaps, could hang out with lots of men, including the Prince of Wales (so what's new there!) she was spurned by women, and reviled in the ultra conservative press. By this time, women were being portrayed as the angel in the house of course, like shop dummies, if they were respectable, without any lady bits! So Skittles' making her living from her lady bits was shocking. Very hypocritically shocking.
This is the kind of book where the history makes you angry. Its not just the hypocrisy, it's the fact that in order to obtain some sort of sexual, financial and social freedom, these women had to become courtesans. I must say, one of the aspects I didn't particularly buy into was the argument that they all liked sex - fine, but indiscriminate sex based on monetary return? For me that has a squirm factor I couldn't get over. The other thing that made me uncomfortable was the sheer consumerism of all concerned. They all spent like there was no tomorrow, they all dripped in diamonds and silk and lace, and they all amassed enormous debts. If you become a courtesan to have an independent way of life, then why put that life in danger by over-spending to the point where you have to take on a few more customers to pay the bills? Even Elizabeth Armistead, who married very happily in the end (to Charles James Fox, who was supposedly extremely lax in the personal hygiene department, so she must have loved him) even she had enormous debts and a spending habit.
I didn't like these women but I admired them. I railed at the society in which they lived, and I felt a hue sympathy for them and for the women on the other side of the fence. The thing is though, this high class courtesan thing still goes on. And I couldn't help but draw the parallels. The good time girls like Christine Keiller. And the poor souls who are forced into it these days by handlers. This wasn't a comfortable book, but it was thought-provoking, extremely well-written, and even better it's given me lots of ideas for some stories of my own.
Courtesans tells the story of four women in the 'long' 19th Century, who were famed and feted, superstars of their time - though of course, only in certain sets. What I found fascinating was not so much the stories of the women themselves (I'll get to that) but the changing attitudes in society to them. High class prostitution, for this is what it was, was much more acceptable in the Georgian period than it was by the time we got to the story of Skittles in the mid-Victorian period. When Sophia Baddely plied her trade, she was a trend setter, not exactly mixing with women in society, but admired by them and revered by them. While Skittles, the most famous perhaps, could hang out with lots of men, including the Prince of Wales (so what's new there!) she was spurned by women, and reviled in the ultra conservative press. By this time, women were being portrayed as the angel in the house of course, like shop dummies, if they were respectable, without any lady bits! So Skittles' making her living from her lady bits was shocking. Very hypocritically shocking.
This is the kind of book where the history makes you angry. Its not just the hypocrisy, it's the fact that in order to obtain some sort of sexual, financial and social freedom, these women had to become courtesans. I must say, one of the aspects I didn't particularly buy into was the argument that they all liked sex - fine, but indiscriminate sex based on monetary return? For me that has a squirm factor I couldn't get over. The other thing that made me uncomfortable was the sheer consumerism of all concerned. They all spent like there was no tomorrow, they all dripped in diamonds and silk and lace, and they all amassed enormous debts. If you become a courtesan to have an independent way of life, then why put that life in danger by over-spending to the point where you have to take on a few more customers to pay the bills? Even Elizabeth Armistead, who married very happily in the end (to Charles James Fox, who was supposedly extremely lax in the personal hygiene department, so she must have loved him) even she had enormous debts and a spending habit.
I didn't like these women but I admired them. I railed at the society in which they lived, and I felt a hue sympathy for them and for the women on the other side of the fence. The thing is though, this high class courtesan thing still goes on. And I couldn't help but draw the parallels. The good time girls like Christine Keiller. And the poor souls who are forced into it these days by handlers. This wasn't a comfortable book, but it was thought-provoking, extremely well-written, and even better it's given me lots of ideas for some stories of my own.
June 18, 2023
On a regular basis, I dwell with people who are on a much higher rung of the social ladder than I. Many of my friends, and my very own significant other. (This is ultimately the outcome of attending a "prestigious" school, where I am neither smart nor poor enough to be a scholar so my family's basically struggling to get me through my education.) The isolation and instability that the gap in social class brings is painfully palpable. Although I am not in the business of courtesanry, this book tells me the way I feel has been felt by women before me, women who also come from the petitbourgeois who somehow earned favor from esteemed men to achieve independence. I can't help but fear that I be viewed the same. I do not wish to use people to get to my aspired economic status even if, I've realized, this is simply how society works. (Albeit conventionally the "using of each other" happens between people of closer economic backgrounds where the act of using is rendered mutual and equal.)
The five women discussed in this book hacked the game of society the best way social pariah of our sex could at the time. With love, its semblances, and connections as currency.
Also, while others didn't appreciate it as much, I actually liked the tangential exploration of each subject's context. It felt casual and conversational, like how a friend somewhat digresses when they tell you gossip. At least, the book got back to the point.
The five women discussed in this book hacked the game of society the best way social pariah of our sex could at the time. With love, its semblances, and connections as currency.
Also, while others didn't appreciate it as much, I actually liked the tangential exploration of each subject's context. It felt casual and conversational, like how a friend somewhat digresses when they tell you gossip. At least, the book got back to the point.
June 29, 2020
I still have a hard time with the definition of five stars being amazing. However, Katie Hickman has produced a deeply researched and most interesting study of five famous English Courtesans from the 1700's to the 1900's. She re-creates real women with striking personalities. I learned so much about the now extinct courtesan category of women. They had more access to wealth than did the wives of the men who were their patrons. The dukes, kings, princes, and very wealthy businessmen provided mansions and castles, carriages, horses, designer clothing, jewelry and servants for their courtesans. The 'allowing' of other lesser lovers surprised me. Often the patrons and lovers would attend the same dinners together, at her home. The patrons saw it as basking in their power and standing somehow. Perhaps another form of noblesse oblige?
Perhaps the courtesans were the most successful and free women of those patriarchal days, although their lifestyle was clearly dependent on men. They were intelligent, some educated, not always beautiful but mostly, and scintillating. They were always adored and expressed the height of "what more could she want?" Perhaps freedom and the right to be equal? A very good read! Also, if you prefer the novel form of courtesans, Cousin Bette (Balzac) and Nana (Zola) are excellent reads.
Perhaps the courtesans were the most successful and free women of those patriarchal days, although their lifestyle was clearly dependent on men. They were intelligent, some educated, not always beautiful but mostly, and scintillating. They were always adored and expressed the height of "what more could she want?" Perhaps freedom and the right to be equal? A very good read! Also, if you prefer the novel form of courtesans, Cousin Bette (Balzac) and Nana (Zola) are excellent reads.
February 1, 2021
Features five biographies covering England's golden age of courtesans. In addition to describing the glamour, Hickman acknowledges that most of these women chose their career as the best option for their circumstances. Some valued their freedom above all else whereas others preferred the security of contracts binding lovers to long-term financial support. My favorite is Elizabeth Armistead because she was so intelligent and captivating that Lord Fox had to marry her. Fortunately, she was clever enough to become aristocracy without excessive scandal, but she was the only courtesan to do so. Fallen aristocrats, like Grace Dalrymple Eliot, becoming courtesans were much more common. (Speaking of which, the only thing this book lacked was a chapter on Dally the Tall. She's mentioned often enough that I want to know more.)
I also learned that English popular mythology attributed the invention of the condom to Colonel Cundum who never existed.
I also learned that English popular mythology attributed the invention of the condom to Colonel Cundum who never existed.
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