An interesting book detailing the lives of the courtesans of the France's Second Empire; these range from the sad life of Alphonsine Plessis (aka Marie du Plessis) ,whom Dumas (fils) immortalised in 'La Dame aux Camelias", to the hard uncompromising life of 'La Paiva', the Russian prostitute who became one of the most wealthy and influential women in Paris and, had she lived a little longer, would have eventually have become a princess. The book could have had a broader spectrum extending beyond the Second Empire, but is well worth a read.