'Russell succeeds well in presenting a very densely peopled world where a wide variety of women, from duchesses to Bluestockings to actresses have seized center stage. Throughout, there is an impressive range of reference to modern scholars and, above all the newspapers, magazines, engravings, and cartoons of the period.' Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Theatre Research

• List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction; 2. The Circle of Soho: Teresa Cornelys and Carlisle House; 3. Harmonic routs and midnight revels: the politics of masquerade; 4. 'Dissipation's hydra reign': Almack's and the Coterie; 5. 'Welcome to the Pleasure Dome': the London Pantheon; 6. Lady Bab and Mrs Ab: the woman of fashion and the theatre; 7. 'Alias, alias, alias': the trials of the Duchess of Kingston; 8. 'Lady Teazle's occupation's o'er'; 9. Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

'Russell succeeds well in presenting a very densely peopled world where a wide variety of women, from duchesses to Bluestockings to actresses have seized center stage. Throughout, there is an impressive range of reference to modern scholars and, above all the newspapers, magazines, engravings, and cartoons of the period.' Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Theatre Research

• List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction; 2. The Circle of Soho: Teresa Cornelys and Carlisle House; 3. Harmonic routs and midnight revels: the politics of masquerade; 4. 'Dissipation's hydra reign': Almack's and the Coterie; 5. 'Welcome to the Pleasure Dome': the London Pantheon; 6. Lady Bab and Mrs Ab: the woman of fashion and the theatre; 7. 'Alias, alias, alias': the trials of the Duchess of Kingston; 8. 'Lady Teazle's occupation's o'er'; 9. Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

'Russell succeeds well in presenting a very densely peopled world where a wide variety of women, from duchesses to Bluestockings to actresses have seized center stage. Throughout, there is an impressive range of reference to modern scholars and, above all the newspapers, magazines, engravings, and cartoons of the period.' Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Theatre Research

• List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction; 2. The Circle of Soho: Teresa Cornelys and Carlisle House; 3. Harmonic routs and midnight revels: the politics of masquerade; 4. 'Dissipation's hydra reign': Almack's and the Coterie; 5. 'Welcome to the Pleasure Dome': the London Pantheon; 6. Lady Bab and Mrs Ab: the woman of fashion and the theatre; 7. 'Alias, alias, alias': the trials of the Duchess of Kingston; 8. 'Lady Teazle's occupation's o'er'; 9. Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography; Index.