Rocketgirl's Full Review: Ann Seagraves - Soiled Doves: Prostitution in the ...
The full title of this book is "Soiled Doves, Prostitution in the Early West," by Anne Seagraves. This book is part of her series in which she profiles various historical females of the old west.
Though modern historians tend to try to push our less flattering history under the rug, or try to rationalize it away, Ms. Seagraves simply tells a story. She does not try to justify these women's profession. She does not try to condemn their morality or analyze their influence. She just explains how some women ended up as prostitutes, what the typical prostitute's life was like, and how some of them had successful lives later. I enjoy Ms. Seagraves style since when I am reading a book like this, I do not want to be preached to, nor do I want to get a slanted view of the topic. The book is very matter-of-fact.
The book is divided into nine main chapters:
Silk Stockings and Fancy Lingerie - This chapter discusses some of the reasons that women became prostitutes and how they lived their lives. It explains the various types of brothels and "cribs" that the women worked in.
It Happened on Holladay Street - Holladay Street, renamed Market Street after the insistence of the Ben Holladay family, was the red-light district of Denver. This chapter profiles some of the ladies of the evening that worked there.
Working Girls - This chapter discusses some of the women who worked as prostitutes. One fairly famous girl discussed is Julia Bulette of Virginia City, Nevada. One of her customers murdered her.
The Love Story of Lottie Johl - Lottie was one prostitute who managed to marry and get out of the profession. Unfortunately the townspeople had long memories and would never accept her as an honorable woman.
The Entrepreneurs - This section discusses the madames and how they conducted business. Some of them were never prostitutes themselves, but tried to ease the lives of those who were.
Molly b'Dam - Molly was a famous prostitute in the silver camps of the Idaho panhandle. She was well loved by the miners and townspeople because she always pitched in to help people when they were sick. She also contributed largely to the city coffers.
A Little Affection, Please - This section describes the lonely lives of the prostitutes. Many died young from disease. Others committed suicide rather than continue on. A few were killed by customers or husbands.
The Chinese Slave Girls - A Life Without Hope - San Francisco had a booming trade in Chinese prostitutes. They were imported to San Francisco as trade goods by their own people. Most did not know what fate awaited them when they arrived in the United States. A white woman named Donaldina Cameron championed their cause and rescued many of them from the life.
Colorful Ladies of the Southwest - This section focuses on Tombstone, Arizona, and the Texas panhandle. One famous prostitute profiled is Big Nose Kate, the consort of Doc Holiday.
The book is well-written and interesting. There are some wonderful pictures of the women. There are also several excerpts from period newspapers that lend authenticity and reality to the narrative. It was definitely educational and some stories made me very sympathetic for the plight of some of these women. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the Old West.
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