City Of Eros [Paperback]

This book intricately weaves capitalism, social custom, and sex into a compelling narrative of nineteenth century New York City. The author doesn't just say that prostitution was prevalent, he cites newspapers, letters, public records, art, novels, circulars and other publications from the 1900s, which leave the reader in no doubt that prostitution was one of the leading industries of NYC at that time. The image of packs of teenage prostitutes roaming Broadway and the Bowery, (some as young as 10 or 12), will stay with me forever.

The writer goes on to illustrate how the lack of career opportunities for women and the exorbitant rents of Manhattan drove many women into the sex business. For most of these women, there were few choices: live in extreme poverty or turn a few tricks and have decent lodgings, food and clothing. Most of these women didn't think of themselves as "fallen". They were doing what was necessary to survive. They went willingly into prostitution so that their lives could be better. Ironically, although it was business that victimized and objectified women, prostitution gave many of them entrepreneurial opportunities. The sex business made some women rich.

It is interesting to note that the very society that reviled these women directly benefited from the real estate boom that the sex business made possible. Poor people couldn't have afforded the high rents, but prostitutes were able to. Once landlords realized how much more prostitutes could pay, they were happy to have them instead of "decent people". Not only did prostitutes pay higher rents, but they also paid police and politicians to "look the other way". A huge political machine grew up around the sex industry that aided and abetted it. Almost everyone had heard of Tammany Hall.

When you add in the fact that it became "trendy" during the 1900s for men to live the "Sporting Life" (prostitutes, gambling, drinking, boxing - all around partying), the flourishing of prostitution seems inevitable.

Eventually, the changing landscape of the real estate business, the increase of career opportunies for women, the availability of birth control, the changing attitudes towards sex and marriage, and a marked increase in benevolent societies designed to assist the poor and needy made the downfall of prostitution as inevitable as its rise.

This was a truly fascinating book. Normally it takes me weeks and weeks to plough through one of these non-fiction historical types of books, (even though I love them!), but I breezed through this one in about 4 days. I would recommend it to anyone, but particularly to those interested in the history of New York City, sex, and/or women.