Smart - Softcover

Bakewell, S

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0099286637 ISBN 13: 9780099286639

Publisher: Vintage, 2002

Synopsis

The Smart is a true drama of eighteenth-century life with a mercurial, mysterious heroine. Caroline is a young Irishwoman who runs off to marry a soldier, comes to London and slides into a glamorous life as a high-class prostitute, a great risk-taker, possessing a mesmerising appeal. In the early 1770s, she becomes involved with the intriguing Perreau twins, identical in looks but opposite in character, one a sober merchant, the other a raffish gambler. They begin forging bonds, living in increasing luxury until everything collapses like a house of cards - and forgery is a capital offence. A brilliantly researched and marvellously evocative history, The Smart is full of the life of London streets and shots through with enduring themes - sex, money, death and fame. It bridges the gap between aristocracy and underworld as eighteenth-century society is drawn into the most scandalous financial sting of the age.

About this title

About the Author

Sarah Bakewell is a curator at the Wellcome Library, London, where she stumbled across this fascinating story. She has written for publications ranging from journals of medical history to Fortean Times: this is her first book.

From the Inside Flap

on the verge of war with America, yet foreign affairs were far from the thoughts of Londoners, spellbound by the proceedings of two spectacular trials, one involving a strange pair of twins, and the other an elegant young woman. Caroline Rudd had left Ireland for London where she came to enjoy a glamorous life as a high-class prostitute. Her mesmerizing charisma attracted the identical but opposite Perreau twins one a sober merchant, the other a raffish gambler. Caroline and the twins forged bonds and lived in luxury until everything collapsed like a house of cards and charges of forgery were laid. Meticulously researched, this evocative history brilliantly bridges the gap between aristocracy and underworld, as eighteenth-century society is drawn into the most scandalous financial smart of the age.


From the Hardcover edition.

Edition details

• Publisher: Vintage
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0099286637
• ISBN 13: 9780099286639
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336