Brides of the Multitude

Book excerpt: Brides of the Multitude is a fascinating, historically accurate account of why prostitution ran rampant in the Old West during the prudish Victorian period of the United States. It explains who these women were, their reasons for becoming prostitutes, the types of establishments of prostitution, the conditions under which the women worked, and problems associated with sexually transmitted diseases and contraception. Weaving facts with colorful anecdotes, the author presents an in-depth look at the "ladies" who conducted business in the infamous red light districts located throughout the frontier.