Why read The Underworld Sewer?

Book cover of The Underworld Sewer: A Prostitute Reflects on Life in the Trade, 1871-1909

Book description

For twenty years Josie Washburn lived and worked in houses of prostitution. She spent the last twelve as the madam of a moderately fancy brothel in Lincoln, Nebraska. After retiring in 1907 and moving to Omaha, she turned to "throwing a searchlight on the underworld," including the "cribs" of Nebraska's…

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American history

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Underworld Sewer as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Jody Hadlock

Author

After not being able to find a publisher in the early 1900s, Josie Washburn self-published her memoir. In The Underworld Sewer, Josie not only describes her life as a prostitute and madam, but she also debunks the notion at the time that women became prostitutes to “satisfy their own unnatural lusts.” Josie wanted to educate the public about the true horrors and plight of the unfortunate women who had to resort to prostitution to survive and, ultimately, to motivate the public to effect change. Her memoir is as much a scathing commentary on society’s double standards as it is an…

From Jody's list on 19th century prostitutes.