Know Your Early 20th Century Chicago Madames

By Marcus Gilmer in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 1, 2008 3:16PM

Back over Christmas, stuck at our parents' house, we plowed through Sin In The Second City, Karen Abbott's tome about Chicago's legendary brothel owners, the Everleigh sisters, and the religious battle against the houses of ill-repute. It came highly recommended as a great source to fill us in on Chicago's colorful and adventurous past. Abbott's writing breathes life into both the turn-of-the-20th-century Chicago and its inhabitants: Minna and Ada Everleigh, Vic Shaw, Bathhouse John, Ike Bloom, Ernest Bell, and Clifford Roe. It's one of the best books on our city's wonderful history that we've read (yes, including that book) and we highly recommend you get to a local library or bookstore and pick it up.

Regardless of whether or not you've read it, you'll likely enjoy hearing Abbott herself read and discuss the book tonight at 7 p.m. at the Edgebrook Public Library, courtesy of the Edgebrook Library and the Edgebrook Historical Society.

We also recommend the book's official website. It has an extensive collection of reviews, interviews with Abbott, and historical information. It also has an ample list of "Chicago Resources" links featuring bookstores and Chicago-related websites (including this one!). We particularly recommend this CSPAN interview with the Trib's Rick Kogan (RealPlayer required).

Here's a clip of a previous Abbott reading to tide you over.

Karen Abbott, Wednesday April 2, 7 p.m., Edgebrook Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 5331 W. Devon Avenue, Admission is Free