Whore Biographies, 1700–1825
Editor: Julie Peakman
Consulting Editors: Alex Pettit and Patrick Spedding
978 1 85196 806 0: 234x156mm: £350.00/$595.00
978 1 85196 807 7: 234x156mm: £350.00/$595.00
The sexual misdemeanours of the great and the not-so-good have always attracted attention. Across eight meticulously edited volumes, this two-part collection of carefully selected and extremely rare texts focuses on autobiographies and biographies of courtesans, directories of whores, erotic poems dedicated to harlots, jocular descriptions of prostitutes and jest books on strumpets. These provide invaluable primary sources for the study of sexuality, gender, women’s studies and the literature and history of the eighteenth century. This new edition brings together an assortment of well-chosen primary material, offering academics easy access to as yet underused resources.
Part I contains biographies of well-known whores such as Fanny Murray, Sally Salisbury and Nancy Dawson, as well as lesser-known prostitutes such as Phoebe Phillips and Fanny Davies. It also contains texts on contemporary views on prostitution.
The second part focuses on the genre of courtesans’ autobiographies, on the little-known memoirs of Harriette Wilson, Julia Johnstone and Mrs Leeson. These autobiographies express the views of the women themselves: what they thought of their paramours; the sexual double standard; their jealousies; their friends; of chastity and infidelity. Descriptions of some of the leading figures of the day also feature in this part.
- These works have never before been printed in their full unexpurgated versions since the eighteenth century
- Full editorial apparatus, including substantial general introduction to each part, headnotes to each text and endnotes
- Fully consolidated index for the complete set in the final volume
- Original footnotes or asides included
- Each facsimile page is digitally cleaned and enhanced, significantly improving on the quality and legibility of the original
- The Wilson and Leeson texts are reset to provide readers with a full modern version of these extensive and fascinating works
Sample pages
- Mr Thompson, The female Amazon, or a genuine accgunt [sic] of the most remarkable adventures, and complicated intrigues, displayed in the life of the celebrated and notorious Miss Fanny Davies, the Borough beauty (1786)
- The Female Amazon: endnotes
Contents
Volume 1
The shortest-way with whores and rogues: or, a new project for reformation. Dedicated to Mr. Daniel de Foe, author of the Shortest way with dissenters (1703); The life of the late celebrated Mrs Elizabeth Wisebourn ... The third edition, corrected. To which is added, table talk: being some select discourses and sayings of Mrs Wisebourn (1721); The effigies, parentage, education, life, merry-pranks and conversation of the celebrated Mrs Sally Salisbury (1722–3); Sally Salisbury’s letter to Frank Rig. Friday, May 10, 1723 (1723); An account of the tryal of Sally Salisbury, at the Sessions-House in the Old Bailey on Wednesday the 24th of April, 1723 (1723); Bernard Mandeville, A modest defence of publick stews: or, an essay upon whoring, as it is now practis’d in these kingdoms. Written by a layman. Answer’d (1725); Anon, A modest defence of chastity (1726)
Volume 2
A view of the beau monde: or, memoirs of the celebrated Coquetilla. A real history. In which is interspersed the amours of several persons of quality and distinction. With several original songs ... To which is added, the masque of life: a ballad. By a person of distinction (1731); Thomas Man The benefit of procreation. Together with some few hints towards the better support of whores and bastards. To which is prefix’d, a preface to the ladies (1739); The prostitutes of quality; or adultery ŕ-la-mode. Being authentic and genuine memoirs of several persons of the highest quality (1757)
Volume 3
Memoirs of the celebrated Miss Fanny M, Vol I (1758); Memoirs of the celebrated Miss Fanny M-. Vol II (1759)
Volume 4
The uncommon adventures of Miss Kitty F****r (1759); Kitty’s stream: or, the noblemen turned fisher-men. A comic satire. Addressed to the gentlemen in the interest of the celebrated Miss K----y F----r. By Rigdum Funidos (1759); Horse and away to St. James’s Park or, a trip for the noontide air who rides fastest, Misss [sic] Kitty Fisher, or her gay gallant (1760); A sketch of the present times, and the time to come: in an address to Kitty Fisher (1762); Genuine memoirs of the late celebrated Jane D****s (date unknown); Edward Thompson, The Meretriciad (1761); Of All the Girls in Town (1760); Genuine memoirs of the celebrated Miss Nancy D---n. Adorned with a beautiful frontispiece (1760); Nancy Dawson’s jests: to which is added the merry hornpipe; being a collection of songs written for the delight and amusement of all her admirers. Embellished with a beautiful print of Miss Dawson (1761); Nancy Dawson with Variations by T H [Thomas Hamley] Butler (c.1785); Kitty’s Attalantis for the year 1766 (1766)
Volume 5
Characters of the present most celebrated courtezans. Interspersed with a variety of secret anecdotes never before published (1780); Mr Thompson The female Amazon, or a genuine accgunt [sic] of the most remarkable adventures, and complicated intrigues, displayed in the life of the celebrated and notorious Miss Fanny Davies, the Borough beauty (1786); Women of the Town, Or Authentick Memoirs of Phoebe Phillips, Otherwise Maria Maitland (1803); Secret Memoirs of Miss Sally Dawson (1805); Poll House and the Marquis of C (1820); Memoirs of Lady C********* (1820); Memoirs of the Life of Celebrated Mrs Q (1822)
Volume 6
The life of Mrs. Margaret Leeson alias Peg Plunket. Written by herself: in which are given anecdotes and sketches of ... some of the most celebrated characters in Great-Britain and Ireland, particularly of all the filles des joys and men ... who usually frequented her Citherean temple (date unknown)
Volume 7
Harriette Wilson, The Interesting and Amorous Adventures of Harriette Wilson (1825) reset from 4 volumes including ‘A commentary on the licentious Liberty of the Press: in which the recent publication, entitled ‘Memoirs of Harriette Wilson’ is severely censured’ plus letters from Harriette to her publisher reprinted in his paper ‘Stockdale’s Budget’ (undated)
Volume 8
Julia Johnstone, Confessions of Julia Johnstone (1825)