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Drink and prostitution: The Belle Epoque Hooters
“Come and See Pretty Pussies” – Street advertisement for a brasserie Among the big headaches for municipal authorities of Paris in the second part of the 19th century was the appearance of the...
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Parisian Prostitutes (1): The fortifications whore
The following text by Octave Uzanne comes from the book The Modern Parisienne, published in 1910. Although Edwardian instead of Victorian, Uzanne’s book describes Paris that had...
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Parisian Prostitutes (2): La gigolette
The following text by Octave Uzanne comes from the book The Modern Parisienne, published in 1910. A much more formidable species is the gigolette, who is also to be found on the outskirts of Paris....
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Parisian Prostitutes (3): The impostors
The following text by Octave Uzanne comes from the book The Modern Parisienne, published in 1910. Although Edwardian instead of Victorian, Uzanne’s book describes Paris that had hardly changed since...
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Parisian Prostitutes (4): The jolies madames
Again, let’s thank Octave Uzanne for his insightful book The Modern Parisienne published in 1912 : If we are to believe the adroit matrons, the distinguished old ladies, the venerable grandmothers who...
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The Opera of Paris: We Also Procure Our Ballerinas to Wealthy Men
Backstage at the Opera by Jean Béraud The title of this post is not an exaggeration, although the Opera directors would have preferred a more subtle one or, ideally, a complete silence on the subject....
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The Policeman’s Work Is Never Done
An attack on a police wagon. Criminal gangs were the scourge of Paris It was never easy to police Paris. The Parisians, instead of being glad for the help and protection, have always despised their...
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Parisian Prostitutes (5): The Clandestines
The Milliner on the Champs Elysées by Jean Beraud In this fifth and last part of the series, Octave Uzanne explores the hidden side of the Parisian sex industry. The text was published in 1912. This...
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The Noon Girl: La Midinette
The Arrival of the Midinettes by Jean Béraud In the earlier Parisian fauna, we met the grisettes and the gigolettes. The former were independent working-class girls often romantically involved with...
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The Zone: The Underbelly of Paris
. Map of Paris in 1889. In the early 20th century, as the city underwent rapid expansion, the decision was made to demolish the outdated fortifications that encircled the city. / Paris, with its grand...
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