review: sin in the second city

Sin and the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul, Karen Abbot's book about Chicago's vice district, is the kind of history more people should be reading.

She tells the story of the Everleigh sisters, two of the most successful and notorious madams in the history of the U.S. Their Everleigh Club drew city officials, gamblers, aristocrats, academics, and just about everyone else. The Everleigh girls, who included such characters as Doll, Brick Top, and Diamond Bertha, were unique because they were generally very healthy, happy, and independent. They could recite poetry, talk about the philosophy of Balzac, play the piano, and be 'courtesans' in the full sense of the word as opposed to just...ahem...you-know-whatting. The Everleighs took great pains to educate them and keep them safe.
 But there was plenty of debauchery and straight-up weirdness too: opium eating, devouring raw meat for the pleasure of the customers, and serving champagne in the girls' shoes.

Minna Everleigh

And the madams themselves were quite fascinating: They were resourceful at best, liars at worst. They never really got their stories straight on who they were or where they came from. They were masters of constant reinvention - Something I, too, aspire to be. (But perhaps more like Madonna and less like early 20th century brothel keepers. But I haven't ruled out all my options just yet.) They also held their own against political bosses and jealous, conniving rivals. They were two tough cookies and fun to read about.

Abbot also sheds light on the other side of the culture: The evangelists, reformers, prohibitionists, and others who dedicated their lives to breaking up the party. The Everleigh Club, being the most fashionable, popular, and sought-after, naturally became their primary target. Lammmmeeee. Abbot spends about half the book discussing these characters, too - which I, naturally, found much less interesting. I definitely would've been hanging out with the Everleighs instead of holding some sort of revival on the street outside. So I didn't find reading about these party-poopers very entertaining. But it did provide an interesting contrast to the wild & colorful Everleigh Club.

So, in short, I really enjoyed this book. It was great history: equal parts depravity and moralizing. If you have any interest in turn-of-the-century America, or want a how-to manual on how to be a successful madam, I totally recommend.