The Art of Hooking Up: Great Courtesans of 19th Century Paris

The Gilded Gentleman

They were beautiful, elegant stylemakers. They were also savvy, shrewd businesswomen who, in one way or another, practiced the world's oldest profession. They were the courtesans of 19th century Paris.

In this show we take a look truly "behind the glitter and the gold" to see what lives lay behind the opulence, elegance and sophisticated style that courtesans showed to the world. For many of these women, their exuberant public images hid lives of pain, sadness and abuse.

In addition to a look at just what a courtesan's world was like, we delve into the lives of three of the most famous in 19th century Paris: Marie Duplessis, who went on to be immortalized in literature, opera, theatre and film; Cora Pearl, an English beauty who counted royalty among her lovers; and Liane de Pougy, a performer at the Folies Bergeres who left the world of the courtesans for an unexpected new chapter later in her life.

From the boxes at the Opera to the gambling halls of Monte Carlo, this episode takes you into a world where much more of the story lay far beneath the surface.

Related episode on The Gilded Gentleman:

• "Edith Wharton's Paris" Episode #35