Biography

Madam: The Biography of Polly Adler, Icon of the Jazz Age

Madam: The Biography of Polly Adler, Icon of the Jazz Age

  • Downloads：8828
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-11-03 17:21:25
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Debby Applegate
  • ISBN：B08VSJJ71S
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Kristine ，

Madam by Debby Applegate is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in late October。The 1920s era-specific description is laid over a scene/situation like heavy ornate drapes that you want to push or peel aside。 It’s a bummer since I love stories like these， but it’s meant for a far more patient and obliging reader than I am。

Leslie Zemeckis ，

Excellent bio of madam Polly Adler - an in-depth look at jazz age prostitution in NYC

Tammy Buchli ，

I enjoyed this book， although it was really less of a personal bio of Adler and more a generalized history of Jazz Age New York with a focus on the vice trades。 Interesting， but I didn't truly get the feeling that I got to know Adler as much as I would prefer in a biography。 That said， I have read Adler's autobiography （written and published in the late '50s - early '60s， so it was very nice to read a less sanitized and curated version。Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review。 I enjoyed this book， although it was really less of a personal bio of Adler and more a generalized history of Jazz Age New York with a focus on the vice trades。 Interesting， but I didn't truly get the feeling that I got to know Adler as much as I would prefer in a biography。 That said， I have read Adler's autobiography （written and published in the late '50s - early '60s， so it was very nice to read a less sanitized and curated version。Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review。 。。。more

Erin ，

Giveaway Win！

Sharyl ，

This is not only a fascinating biography of Polly Adler， but also an insightful history of the Jazz Age。 Polly Adler was once one of many young immigrants to come from Eastern Europe， but the path her life took was anything but expected。 Born in Yanow， Russia， in 1900， Pearl Adler's early life was very circumspect due to her gender and the anti-Semitic restrictions of the Russian Empire。 Nevertheless， throughout her childhood， Pearl exhibited intelligence and was determined to get an education， This is not only a fascinating biography of Polly Adler， but also an insightful history of the Jazz Age。 Polly Adler was once one of many young immigrants to come from Eastern Europe， but the path her life took was anything but expected。 Born in Yanow， Russia， in 1900， Pearl Adler's early life was very circumspect due to her gender and the anti-Semitic restrictions of the Russian Empire。 Nevertheless， throughout her childhood， Pearl exhibited intelligence and was determined to get an education， even though that was unheard of for a girl。 At just thirteen years of age， she landed at Ellis Island， all alone， to meet relations who were strangers。 When this arrangement turned out to be less than desirable， she was forced to live on her own at a very young age。 Her intelligence and determination would be put to many a test in the coming years。 How Pearl became Polly Adler， the most well-known madam and a legend in New York City， is a long story， and very much worth reading。 Boxers， gangsters， politicians， entertainers， cops， judges， writers， and reporters。 High brow， low brow， and everything in between。 She met them。 Some came for drinks and games， some for sex， some to hide out。 She had her finger on the pulse of the current culture for years。 I was shocked at the depth of corruption in NYC during Polly’s lifetime。 It was truly wild， as was her existence。 The tenacity and stamina it took to hold on to her livelihood is unimaginable。 Author Debby Applegate has used the language of this time period， and it effectively creates an atmosphere that transports the reader to another era。 I am impressed with the extensive research this volume required and was captivated by its style。I haven’t given away any details in this review， in the hope that some of the surprising facts--and there are many--will amaze and enthrall someone else in the same way。 Thank you so much to Doubleday and Netgalley for this mesmerizing experience。 。。。more

Gail O'Connor ，

I felt that the book was based more upon US history and not of Polly Adler I was quite disappointed。 I'm sure however that many people will enjoy this book。 I had to put it down。 Could not keep my interest。 I felt that the book was based more upon US history and not of Polly Adler I was quite disappointed。 I'm sure however that many people will enjoy this book。 I had to put it down。 Could not keep my interest。 。。。more

Natalie ，

This is so much more than a biography of the infamous MADAM， Polly Adler， it is a social history of the era in which she reigned。 The author has blended in so many of the important political， sports figures and other celebrities， that I found it a joyful learning experience。 I know I will use this material in my seminars。 This book is well written and filled with the fascinating story of an era。 Thank you Netgalley for sending me this remarkable book

Linden ，

Debby Applegate， a Pulitzer Prize winning historian， has written a fascinating biography of Polly Adler， a jazz-age madam， referred to as the "Jewish Jezebel。" At age 13， she came to the United States by herself from a shtetel in Russia， and eventually became a notorious madam， catering to society men， gangsters， and the literati of 1920's New York。 In Polly's rags to riches story; the author tells of life in the shtetl， Polly's experience as a new immigrant， and the reality of running an illici Debby Applegate， a Pulitzer Prize winning historian， has written a fascinating biography of Polly Adler， a jazz-age madam， referred to as the "Jewish Jezebel。" At age 13， she came to the United States by herself from a shtetel in Russia， and eventually became a notorious madam， catering to society men， gangsters， and the literati of 1920's New York。 In Polly's rags to riches story; the author tells of life in the shtetl， Polly's experience as a new immigrant， and the reality of running an illicit business in 1920's Manhattan， replete with police payoffs， bootleggers， drugs， and the constant demand for attractive women。 （I kept wondering if she would get caught， as did so many of the gangsters of the era， for tax evasion。） Recommended for anyone with an interest in women's history， or the history of the Roaring Twenties。。 Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC。 。。。more

Valerity （Val） ，

A fascinating and thorough look at the life of Polly Adler。 She came to America alone from a shtetl in Janow， Russia。 After being kicked out of two different relatives homes， she moved to New York City and got some work in a corset factory。 She learned the ropes in the prostitution game and set up her first brothel in 1920， the same year as Prohibition came into existence as a moral ban on alcohol。 She ran her brothels well for someone in her 20s， but paid a lot of money in bribes and still got A fascinating and thorough look at the life of Polly Adler。 She came to America alone from a shtetl in Janow， Russia。 After being kicked out of two different relatives homes， she moved to New York City and got some work in a corset factory。 She learned the ropes in the prostitution game and set up her first brothel in 1920， the same year as Prohibition came into existence as a moral ban on alcohol。 She ran her brothels well for someone in her 20s， but paid a lot of money in bribes and still got busted at times。 That cost her a lot in having to relocate， bail everyone out and hire lawyers。 Polly built up a following of famous people， wealthy patrons， and underworld figures。 She allowed just about anyone with a large bankroll to hire the services of her whores。 Polly Adler soon became so well known that there were few who didn’t recognize her name。 Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley， author Debby Applegate， and the publisher。 。。。more