Americas
![Jennifer Wright - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B06W56V5MH.jpg)
Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist
"This is the story of one of the boldest women in American history: self-made millionaire, a celebrity in her era, a woman beloved by her patients and despised by the men who wanted to control them."
An industrious immigrant who built her business from the ground up, Madame Restell was a self-taught surgeon on the cutting edge of healthcare in pre-Gilded Age New York, and her bustling "boarding house" provided birth control, abortions, and medical assistance to thousands of women-rich and poor alike. As her practice expanded, her notoriety swelled, and Restell established her-self as a prime target for tabloids, threats, and lawsuits galore. But far from fading into the background, she defiantly flaunted her wealth, parading across the city in designer clothes, expensive jewelry, and bejeweled carriages, rubbing her success in the faces of the many politicians, publishers, fellow physicians, and religious figures determined to bring her down.
Unfortunately for Madame Restell, her rise to the top of her field coincided with "the greatest scam you've never heard about"-the campaign to curtail women's power by restricting their access to both healthcare and careers of their own. Powerful, secular men-threatened by women's burgeoning independence-were eager to declare abortion sinful, a position endorsed by newly-minted male MDs who longed to edge out their feminine competition and turn medicine into a standardized, male-only practice. By unraveling the misogynistic and misleading lies that put women's lives in jeopardy, Wright simultaneously restores Restell to her rightful place in history and obliterates the faulty reasoning underlying the very foundation of what has since been dubbed the "pro-life" movement.
Thought-provoking, character-driven, boldly written, and feminist as hell, Madame Restell is required reading for anyone and everyone who believes that when it comes to women's rights, women's bodies, and women's history, women should have the last word.
An industrious immigrant who built her business from the ground up, Madame Restell was a self-taught surgeon on the cutting edge of healthcare in pre-Gilded Age New York, and her bustling "boarding house" provided birth control, abortions, and medical assistance to thousands of women-rich and poor alike. As her practice expanded, her notoriety swelled, and Restell established her-self as a prime target for tabloids, threats, and lawsuits galore. But far from fading into the background, she defiantly flaunted her wealth, parading across the city in designer clothes, expensive jewelry, and bejeweled carriages, rubbing her success in the faces of the many politicians, publishers, fellow physicians, and religious figures determined to bring her down.
Unfortunately for Madame Restell, her rise to the top of her field coincided with "the greatest scam you've never heard about"-the campaign to curtail women's power by restricting their access to both healthcare and careers of their own. Powerful, secular men-threatened by women's burgeoning independence-were eager to declare abortion sinful, a position endorsed by newly-minted male MDs who longed to edge out their feminine competition and turn medicine into a standardized, male-only practice. By unraveling the misogynistic and misleading lies that put women's lives in jeopardy, Wright simultaneously restores Restell to her rightful place in history and obliterates the faulty reasoning underlying the very foundation of what has since been dubbed the "pro-life" movement.
Thought-provoking, character-driven, boldly written, and feminist as hell, Madame Restell is required reading for anyone and everyone who believes that when it comes to women's rights, women's bodies, and women's history, women should have the last word.
Editorial Reviews
Next Idea Book Club, "40 Nonfiction Books to Watch Out For in 2023"
The Spectator, "Books to Watch Out For in 2023"
"Jennifer Wright is one of the best writers of history working today, and it's a gift to all of us that she's choosing to focus her tremendous skill as a researcher and singular voice on an all-but-forgotten figure like Madame Restell. To call this book timely would be an understatement. It functions not only as a brilliant biography but also a timeless reminder of the way history can be erased and changed to serve modern political purposes."―DANA SCHWARTZ, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ANATOMY: A LOVE STORY and host of NOBLE BLOOD
"It may be a 19th century story, but Madame Restell's battles with sanctimonious hypocrites and condescending men feels all too modern, especially in an era when basic rights are once again being taken away. Luckily, Jennifer Wright has a wry humor and light hand, making this book as fun as it is inspiring."―AMANDA MARCOTTE, Senior Political Writer at Salon and Author of TROLL NATION
"Reading Jennifer Wright's books is always like having a brilliant friend tell you fascinating history you can't believe you never heard of before. MADAME RESTELL is no exception-it's a page-turning ride through the Gilded Age that will make you laugh, make you cry, and enrage you by turns."―ALEXANDRA PETRI, Washington Post columnist and author of Alexandra Petri's US History
"Like the woman herself, MADAME RESTELL is smart, fascinating, complicated, and not to be denied. Wright has written that most delicious of books, the true story of a bad bitch, a woman whose work is as relevant as your social media timeline, only it's true."―QUINN CUMMINGS, author of NOTES FROM THE UNDERWIRE and SMALL STORIES (2018-2020)
"MADAME RESTELL is a book about one of America's most infamous 19th century abortion p...
The Spectator, "Books to Watch Out For in 2023"
"Jennifer Wright is one of the best writers of history working today, and it's a gift to all of us that she's choosing to focus her tremendous skill as a researcher and singular voice on an all-but-forgotten figure like Madame Restell. To call this book timely would be an understatement. It functions not only as a brilliant biography but also a timeless reminder of the way history can be erased and changed to serve modern political purposes."―DANA SCHWARTZ, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ANATOMY: A LOVE STORY and host of NOBLE BLOOD
"It may be a 19th century story, but Madame Restell's battles with sanctimonious hypocrites and condescending men feels all too modern, especially in an era when basic rights are once again being taken away. Luckily, Jennifer Wright has a wry humor and light hand, making this book as fun as it is inspiring."―AMANDA MARCOTTE, Senior Political Writer at Salon and Author of TROLL NATION
"Reading Jennifer Wright's books is always like having a brilliant friend tell you fascinating history you can't believe you never heard of before. MADAME RESTELL is no exception-it's a page-turning ride through the Gilded Age that will make you laugh, make you cry, and enrage you by turns."―ALEXANDRA PETRI, Washington Post columnist and author of Alexandra Petri's US History
"Like the woman herself, MADAME RESTELL is smart, fascinating, complicated, and not to be denied. Wright has written that most delicious of books, the true story of a bad bitch, a woman whose work is as relevant as your social media timeline, only it's true."―QUINN CUMMINGS, author of NOTES FROM THE UNDERWIRE and SMALL STORIES (2018-2020)
"MADAME RESTELL is a book about one of America's most infamous 19th century abortion p...
Readers Top Reviews
Darcia Helle
Madame Restell is one of the best nonfiction books I’ve ever read. This is so much more than a biography. Madame Restell’s life is wrapped up in women’s rights, freedom to choose, women’s health, suppression and repression, male power and dominance, and the turning tides of a fickle society. Jennifer Wright’s writing style is engaging and immersive. While the subject matter is heavy and complex, Wright adds levity at just the right moments and keeps the story flowing as if we’re reading historical fiction. With the recent overturning of Roe vs Wade, the pattern of persecution from Restell’s lifetime is repeating itself. This book is important for so many reasons. Please read it. *Huge thank you to Hachette Books for the free copy.*
RF
Madame Restell by Jennifer Wright is a fabulous and interesting nonfiction and biography of a woman that was most certainly larger than life. Madame Restell (Ann Trow Lohman who lived 1812 – 1878) was alive during the rough beginnings of women’s healthcare and rights in NY during the 19th century. She was a force to be dealt with. I had actually never heard if this British-born woman who immigrated to the States and through obstacles, uphill battles, oppositions, and true passion, conviction, determination, and perseverance, became a voice for many women and publicized the eternal debate of women’s access and availability to medical procedures (aka abortion). Was she perfect? Nope. But she believed in what she worked for and seemed impossible to the exhausted attempts of others to thwart her at every turn. Controversial? Yep. Fascinating? Absolutely. I learned a lot and was entertained while doing so. One doesn’t have to personally agree with her beliefs to find her very interesting. 5/5 stars
Janalyn
Madame Restell was an immigrant,a pioneer, a wife, a mother, a physician in the envy of her peers. She gave solutions to the problems that plague most young women weather by choice or by force and unlike others in her profession she’s never lost a patient. This is why detective Comstock was set on taking her down. He was a smug policeman with an overblown ego and was the head of Vice in New York City. Madame Restell came to the big Apple in the early 1800 with her husband but when she found herself alone she was forced to find a way to support her self. At first she took in sewing but because that didn’t pay much she looked for a better solution and thanks to different influences she decided to learn how to make pills to help women get rid of problems they didn’t want in eventually would teach herself how to do a surgical abortion and help women with birth control.. I know a lot of people do not think abortions are needed but I always believe that’s those who’ve never been in a position to need one. I don’t think I could ever have an abortion but I can only speak for myself and let others speak for them this book was so good I have read all of Jennifer writes books and although this subject is a hot topic she still told it with all the greatness Jennifer Wright has and what I’ve come to expect from her books. I usually don’t like books where it’s obvious the opinion of the author but you could totally tell what side Jennifer Wright stood with and I totally didn’t mind it. I thought she told her story with the little bit snarkiness and a lot of research and intelligence it is a total five star. I just wish she would write books more often. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
