Catharine Arnold

Fascinating look at the course of the Spanish flu of 1918-19, or as it was anthromorphized in the press's cartoonish figure of the "Spanish lady", a female figure with a death's head, dressed in black flamenco-style dress and mantilla. The earliest mention of any widespread epidemic was made by Hippocrates in 412 BC and we have had epidemics and pandemics of different origins and symptoms ever since, including now. The author mentions theories as to its origin, from the possible to the show more conspiratorial, and much of the book is taken from the writings, letters, or memoirs of people who had either witnessed it in others or had recovered from it themselves. Katherine Anne Porter, the writer, who recovered, felt it was a turning point in her life. The world would probably be a different place if FDR or Mahatma Gandhi had not recovered from their severe bouts with the "Spanish lady". The book was very prescient concerning public health measures, which we are using today. No cure was found; the disease just burned itself out. Not until the 1990s was the genome found. Viruses were not even discovered until the 1930s. Health professionals' earlier thinking of a bacterial origin for the Spanish flu led them into blind alleys.

A little girls' jump rope skipping rhyme from that period:
"I had a little bird,
And its name was Enza.
I opened the window
And in-flew-enza." show less

I can not praise this book highly enough. If you're into titillating reads of debauchery by Londoners dating back to the Roman era, through the middle ages to the present, then you should definitely get your grubby hands on this.

I used to think I had heard all perversions but there were many stories in "City of Sin" that made me stop and think "What the fuck was going on back then?" If I had to pick a favourite story, it would be of the politician that was seen on the balcony of a known show more brothel but whereas many of today's pollies would sadly hide, this MP put on a show for the growing crowd below, which gleefully cheered him on.

Suffice to say I am eagerly chasing down other books by Catharine Arnold. show less

Like Catharine Arnold's other works, "Bedlam" is chock full of intimate detail, anecdotes, and personal histories while still maintaining a clear timeline. Most of the book takes place during the 18th century, but that was Bedlam's notorious, infamous, horrifying heyday. Also, unlike the other books I've read so far, this one actually touched on physiognomy and its role in "identifying" the insane.

The famous and the forgotten, are covered here, along with Bedlam's doctors, porters, surgeons, show more apothecaries and keepers. The author also touches on what is happening around Bedlam, not just inside. The Great Fire of 1666, an earthquake, Gordon's Riot, etc all of which would've affected the patients. There's so much history in such a quick read! My only quibble is that the post-Victorian thru WWI era was condensed into the very least chapter. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. show less

Cheers for Catharine Arnold, author of "The Sexual History of London," a perky and well-written book which takes readers from the days of the Roman occupation of London straight through to the moderrn-day sex trade. What could become bogged down and dry, instead stays fresh and lively. Arnold's background as a journalist works well for this book as she writes a good-sized tome that reads as quickly as the best article in our favorite monthly magazine.

Cheers for Arnold's feminist show more sensibility. She boldly and confidently portrays London's women across the centuries as strong, intelligent survivors, many of whom made conscious choices about their lives and what they did with them. Granted, the reader is going to encounter pages of grim offerings: sex slaves, venereal disease, poor hygiene, and indescribable poverty, but Arnold goes beyond the well-known and accepted theories to offer up examples of how women actually changed the sexual history of London as opposed to being viewed as victims of it.

Cheers to Catharine Arnold for pointing out that women ran prostitution in London for a very long, long time before society changed and organized crime stepped in. Here again, her history shows astute businesswomen and hundreds of years of interesting choices, ideas, and lifestyles. Even if they do not always seem to end up going in the right direction, many of the women Arnold has chosen to highlight appear much saner, realistic, and well balanced than the men who used their services.

Finally, cheers to Catharine Arnold for creating an easy-to-read, enjoyable overview of the different kinds of sexual lifestyles in one of Europe's greatest cities over the years. There is something in the book for everyone and it will appeal to both gay and straight audiences. For older readers, much of the material covered from the great courtesans, Jack the Ripper, the trial of Oscar Wilde, to the Profumo scandal will seem basic and already known. Keep in mind, however, that much of this will be new information for younger people to discover. Catharine Arnold has performed a wonderful service for all of us. This is a great book to be read and to be bought again and given as a gift. Everyone can enjoy The Sexual History of London. show less