Risque Beauty: Beauty Secrets of History’s Most Notorious Courtesans

Beauty has history, and some of the most notable courtesans and other famous women who have personified such beauty over the years are profiled in this unique guide to recreating winsome looks that are, in a word, timeless. The vanity secrets and boudoir lessons offered alongside photographs and step-by-step instructions for recreating the famed styles are accompanied by actual period recipes and preparations for makeup and hair tricks. Biographies of the women relating their rise to fame, their lovers, and any falls from glory as well as engaging quotes are included. Among the profiled ladies are Dutch dancer Mata Hari; Madame Lola Montez, mistress to King Ludwig I of Bavaria; and Veronica Franco, whose life was portrayed in the film Dangerous Beauty.