The scandalous tale of Madame Rachel - celebrated beautician to the rich and famous of Victorian London, con-artist and convicted blackmailer.
Helen Rappaport is an historian and Russianist with a specialism in the Victorians and revolutionary Russia. Her books include Ekaterinburg: The Last Days of the Romanovs, No Place for Ladies: The Untold Story of Women in the Crimean War, and Magnificent Obsession: Victoria, Albert and the death that changed the monarchy, as well as Beautiful For Ever: Madame Rachel of Bond Street - Cosmetician, Con-Artist and Blackmailer. She lives in West Dorset.
A remarkable story... Rappaport handles her scandalous Victorian
melodrama with energy and aplomb, and produces a richly
entertaining portrait of the seamy side of 19th century society
*Daily Mail*
Madame Rachel's story, which has been superbly researched by
Rappaport, is intriguing in itself [and] sheds a fascinating light
on the ladies of Victorian society
*Daily Telegraph*
Beautiful For Ever is one of those un-put-downable surprises that
makes reading worthwhile… This book has the same mix of forensic
investigation and light touch that makes Kate Summerscale’s books
so interesting
*Big Issue*
Speaks volumes about vanity and Victorian attitudes to women
*Independent*
[Beautiful For Ever] is, blissfully, proof that there is still
simply nothing quite like a good Victorian scandal. Rappaport
excels again in this thoroughly researched account of Madame
Rachel...this is a well-paced read that tells us something about
the modern obsession with appearance while remaining deliciously
Victorian at its core
*Waterstone's Books Quarterly*
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