The courtesans

By Joanna Richardson

Subjects: Biography, Courtesans, Social life and customs, History, Prostitution

Description: A very readable description of the lives of famous courtesans in France's Second Empire; from the sad life of Alphonsine Plessis (aka Marie du Plessis) who provided Dumas (fils) with the plot for 'La Dame aux Camelias' to the hard unfeeling career of 'La Paiva', the Russian prostitute who became one of the most influential and richest women in Paris and, had she lived a little longer, would have become a princess. It is a pity that the book confines itself to the Second Empire, but nevertheless it is a very fascinating study.