Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York's Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist

This timely book documents the life and legend of Madame Restell, a self-taught surgeon in Gilded Age New York who set out to provide women with the care they needed to maintain their autonomy. Wildly popular, Madame Restell quickly gained a reputation, and was the target of countless lawsuits, threats, and tabloid hit pieces. But she didn't hide: instead she flaunted her new wealth and success with jewels, carriages, designer clothing, and other luxuries, essentially telling the physicians, publishers, politicians and Bible thumpers out to get her to f*ck off. But her success would not last forever. She fell prey to an increasingly secular campaign to restrict women's access to and ability to practice medicine. Author Jennifer Wright restores Restell to her rightful place in history, all while taking aim at the backwards thinking that, then as now, threatens women's health, autonomy, and well-being.