La Belle Otero.
Lewis, Arthur H.
Place Published: New York:
Publisher: Trident Press,
Date Published: 1967.
Description: 8vo - over 7" - 9" tall. FIRST EDITION. 257 pages plus 16 pages black and white photos. The book is in NEAR FINE condition previous owner's stamp on the half title page. The jacket is in VERY GOOD condition with some minor shelf and edge wear, fading to spine. Comes with BRODART cover. JMVintage specializes in books, magazines, and treasures related to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor...and FAMOUS COURTESANS. See our inventory. Dust jacket cover reads: "Her baptismal name was Augustina, but to the world she was La Belle Otero. From her American debut in 1890, until she retired in 1914, she probably earned more than any courtesan before or since. Her lovers looted company tills and embezzled from banks in order to enjoy her favors, and a Brazilian planter, then in his late seventies, offered a million dollars if she would live with him for the balance of his lifetime. In all, she was mistress to at least five members of royalty and some of the wealthiest men in the world. She was both singer and dancer and appeared in music halls all over the world, where she was greeted with wild, enthusiasm by audiences who should have known better. The critics did, though, and one of their more acid-tongued practitioners summed up her highly successful American debut in ten terse words: "We have seen Otero sing, we have heard her dance. . ." Born in Spain, Otero was the second of seven bastards (each with a different and equally uncertain father); her mother was the village slut. Who better fitted the old adage about had anyone with so little ever come so far? Arthur H. Lewis has done a remarkable job in capturing Otero and the whole magical, glittering era in which,she operated. Witty, compassionate, vibrantly alive, LA BELLE OTERO is vastly entertaining and is profusely illustrated with some of the greatest photographs ever to be gathered in one book."
Edition: First editionBinding: Hard Cover
Condition: Near Fine in Very Good dj
Book Id: 14925
Price: $21.00
