The first in a series of fictitious "memoirs" describing the life and adventures of a successful courtesan. The innocent seventeen-year-old Henrietta Ingerton, forced to flee from her home, must learn to survive by her wits amid the debauchery of eighteenth century London. Separated from the one man who swore to love her forever, Hettie vows to do whatever she must to preserve the child of their love and to be reunited with the husband of her heart.
Rubenhold says that while Henrietta, her family, Lord Allenham and Philip Quindell are fictional, they "are drawn from a composite of historical figures," and "grew out of the many eighteenth century diaries, memoirs, letters and autobiographies I have read over the years." The majority of the supporting cast, places and events however, are real, "subjected to a bit of artistic license," as allowed when writing historical fiction --- as opposed to works of historical fact. Rubenhold's authentic recreation of the substance and sensibilities of the period will satisfy those who demand historical credibility, and counteract the more predictable elements of the plot.
The author is a historian specializing in eighteenth century British social history, with two previous nonfiction books to her credit: The Covent Garden Ladies and The Lady in Red: An Eighteenth Century Tale of Sex, Scandal, and Divorce.
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