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Mar 17, 2015
Jen
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
misfits,
non-fiction,
history,
lives-of-people,
chicago,
true-crime,
crazy-families,
the-single-woman,
midwestern,
sociology
An interesting slice of early 20th Century Chicago history, when brothels were allowed to operate, as long as they kept their business in the designated districts, and lined the pockets of the local police and aldermen. The book mainly focused on the rise and fall of the notorious Everleigh Club, which was run by two sisters. They ran a high class establishment, charging greater sums for the company of their "harlots"--who were taught Balzac, got medical care from an actual doctor, and presumabl
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t’s definitely a picture of a fascinating era, when cities were new and the rules were just being established. It’s obviously heavily researched and filled with detail about its subject. But I do wish it had more scope, actually.
The author touches briefly on the story of boxer Jack Johnson and his visit to the Everleigh Club, where he met his future wife Belle Schreiber. I know others have written extensively on the subject, and i figured Abbott would give it at least a chapter. But she devotes ...more
The author touches briefly on the story of boxer Jack Johnson and his visit to the Everleigh Club, where he met his future wife Belle Schreiber. I know others have written extensively on the subject, and i figured Abbott would give it at least a chapter. But she devotes ...more
I picked up this book for the local history, but didn't realize just how local it actually is - the Everleigh Club was located just a stone's throw from my digs. It's very well-written and speaks to the author's many hours spent at the Chicago Historical Society. The vast majority of the locales described in the book don't exist anymore, so I'm glad Abbott brought this slice of Chicago's backstory to life.
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An interesting read, but bogs down in a poor structure and not enough stories about hookers.
Dec 26, 2009
Juliana Philippa
marked it as to-read
Jan 27, 2012
Lisa
marked it as to-read
Dec 21, 2012
Vesra (When She Reads)
marked it as to-read
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Shelves:
paperback,
non-fiction,
author-a,
s,
pub-random-house,
biographies-memoirs,
pc-400-499,
tbr-2012,
book-club,
crime
Jan 27, 2013
Kent Winward
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Apr 19, 2013
Enthu_Kidlets
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Oct 29, 2013
Janet Whalen
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Jul 27, 2019
Wanda
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Mar 09, 2020
Keeley
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Oct 30, 2023
Erica
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