Brothels, Bordellos, and Bad Girls: Prostitution in ... (ISBN 0826333435)

Outstanding book on Colorado prostitution:
If you want to know about Colorado prostitution in the 1800s and early 1900s, this is the book to buy. It is well researched and written and contains a wealth of information. Jan MacKell spent 10 years collecting material. Her text is well documented with research that consumed thousands of hours. She used a myriad of primary sources and thus presents the reader with material never before assembled and published. Through her history the reader can garner an appreciation of the ladies and the environment in which they worked. Many of the women she talks about were brave, resourceful, and energetic businesswomen who held court in rough and tumble wilderness areas of the west. It was strictly a man's world in which these women provided friendship as well as social and sexual services. They were the only females in some areas, thus providing a woman's company to men starved for this commodity. The author reveals the history of prostitutes and the business of prostitution across what is now the state of Colorado. If writers in other states would follow her example a comprehensive history of the old west pioneer prostitutes could be assembled. I highly recommend this book.

Very good:
I thought this book was very good, detailed, hits all the well known towns, lots of good information, a boon to the historical researcher, writer, or arm chair historian.

Brothels, Bordellos and Bad Girls (Prostitution in Colorado):
Good book about the history of prostitution in Colorado. Very interesting, I thought. Certain prostitutes are named, as well as their experiences in life. Guess I was surprised to find out that so many have committed suicide. Others seemed to thrive, but they were tough women. Some of the dishonest techniques that were used to get the money patrons had were described, such as using a wire to sneak their clothing from the closets while they were enjoying the prostitute; steal their wallets and/or money and return the clothing to the closet! Good reading for anyone interested in the history of the old west, specifically in the State of Colorado.