The Covent Garden Ladies

<p><strong>***By the No. 1 <em>Sunday Times</em> bestselling author of THE FIVE***<br /></strong><strong><em>'A </em>fascinating expose of the seamy side of eighteenth century life' <em>MAIL ON SUNDAY</em></strong><br /><strong>'Rubenhold's pages practically reek with smelly, pox-ridden Georgian Soho'</strong> <strong><em>GUARDIAN</em></strong><br /><strong><em>-------------------------------------------------------</em></strong><br /><br />In<strong> 1757</strong>, a down-and-out Irish poet, the head waiter at the Shakespear's Head Tavern in Covent Garden, and a celebrated London courtesan became bound together by the publication of a little book: <em>Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies. </em>This salacious work - detailing the names and 'specialities' of the capital's sex-workers- became one of the eighteenth century's most scandalous bestsellers.<br /><br />Yet beyond its titillating passages lies a glimpse into the lives of those who lived and died by its profits - a tragicomic opera of the Georgian era, motivated by poverty, passionate love, aspiration and shame. <br /><br /><strong>In this modern and visceral narrative, historian Hallie Rubenhold reveals the story behind <em>Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies</em>, and the legion of ordinary women whose lives in the sex trade history has chosen to ignore. <br /></strong><br /><br />'Scrupulously researched' <em><strong>DAILY TELEGRAPH</strong></em><br /><br />'Crackles with drama and tension' <strong><em>GUARDIAN</em></strong><br /><br /><strong><em>'</em>Compelling and ingenious' <em>INDEPENDENT</em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong>WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:</strong><br /><br />'This book is an absolute 'must'-read for any person interested in English social history' <strong>5 ****</strong><br />'Fascinating' 5 ****<br />'Brilliant. Full of intelligent insight which brings this period to vibrant life' <strong>5 ****</strong></p>