Harriette Wilson thought herself genteel. Indeed, she was educated as such, having the usual accomplishments as well as a great command of the French language. Furthermore, she displays some taste in her living arrangements, her likes, her preferences, even, for men. Additionally, her memoirs are full of shrewd descriptions and peeks into daily life that are very well-written, if at times cryptic. But she was also perhaps the "Greatest Courtesan of her Age," as the title of the book asserts. One of the main problems in life for Harriette, then, is that her way of life (living under the protection of a man without the benefit of marriage to him) was simply not, in any way, considered "genteel" to those living about her.
I take issue with the claim of her being the "greatest courtesan," unless one understands it to mean only the most popular; most notorious; most famous in her day. She lacks the claim to greatness, in my opinion, because of her failure to do better for herself, despite having had many of the day's brightest stars as her "protectors" at various times in her life.
There are so many angles a large work like this could be approached from, that I am uncertain which to address. What, really, constitutes gentlemanly behavior, for example? It is gentlemen of the highest rank who profess to love Harriette and then later treat her the shabbiest.
Or, should we discuss the evident double-standard that enabled said "gentlemen" to avail themselves of Harriette's bedroom (if she allowed), and then go dine with the Regent; while Harriette was of course never invited to or would have been allowed to attend, gatherings of the ton because of her "profession." In other words, a man could be as profligate as he chose, and still retain the esteem and respect of the world, while a woman had to bear the shame. (Not that I am a proponent of Harriette's chosen lifestyle; far from it. But the double-standard is often what kept these ladies from becoming respectable, forcing them to maintain the status quo if they wanted their next meal.)
One flaw in the book is that we have no way of knowing how it was edited, whether for content, verity, or otherwise (perhaps unavoidable in a memoir). The author never states a single date, not even the year in question, which the editor might have pressed her for. This was irritating. In addition, we find out in the introduction by Lesley Blanch that Harriette offered to keep the names of gentlemen out of the book if they paid her a reasonable sum; so there's no way to know who is missing from the account. (However, those who do appear are quite enough for any woman, one thinks!)
Finally, there are practically no details about events of the day, unless it were a fete, or a ball, or something which occurred at the opera. Nevertheless, if you are a fan of history, of the Regency, of social manners, or memoirs; if you are a Regency romance reader, historical fiction reader, or student of the times, then you will enjoy what the book does have to offer. Which is, an account of one woman's life, written without a great deal of introspection and very little second-guessing.
There are times when Harriette Wilson was impossibly mean, "outrageous" you might say; She will both delight and horrify you with her behaviour. But you will be the richer for having read of it. Her frank discussions with men were probably one of the things that kept them coming back to her, and it is precisely this frankness that makes the book so enjoyable. It's a sad commentary that properly bred young women were not supposed to engage in such frank "vulgar" talk, but that of course the men they married hungered for the honesty and transparency that Harriette seldom withheld. As Prince Esterhazy tellingly exclaims to her: 'Oh, Harriette! a wife is altogether so very different from what is desirable, no sort of comparison can be made with them." "They" are the young innocents he wished to seduce, seeking help from Harriette, which she firmly refused to supply.
I underlined a great deal of the text in this book, always seeking new little tidbits and facts of the day, or even common expressions, for my own Regency writing. No matter whether you are new to the period or an old familiar friend, you will find much here to fascinate. Insights to all the famous men she had dealings with, is just the start.
Linore Rose Burkard
[...]
Inspirational Regency Romance
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